Patient-centric research in the time of COVID-19: conducting ethical COVID-19 research in Africa

Abstract

Research practices should be ethical and transparent, prioritising patient benefits and provision of health carehealthcare, and respecting participant autonomy.Priority should be given to research studies with the potential for immediate translated patient benefits based on realistic interventions appropriate to an African context. Institutional Ethics Review Boards should be supported to ensure high-quality, rapid review of research proposals. Informed consent models should reflect research risk level and the heightened vulnerability of the study population during a health crisis. Consideration should be made for patients who are too ill to give consent, and inclusion of data from deceased patients. Participant information must be accessible and relevant to participants, in local languages, and include clear, realistic descriptions of potential benefits and risks. Community engagement using appropriate media channels can be effective in providing information and counter dissemination of false information. Funders and journal editors can provide additional checks and balances to ensure funded and published research from Africa is ethical, patient-centric, relevant and transparent.

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