Ethical Issues in Health Research
Module title | Ethical Issues in Health Research |
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Module code | CSC2017 |
Academic year | 2023/4 |
Credits | 15 |
Module staff | Dr Jenny Lloyd (Convenor) Dr Gretchen Bjornstad (Convenor) |
Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
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Duration: Weeks | 0 | 11 | 0 |
Number students taking module (anticipated) | 60 |
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Module description
Some of the most ground-breaking research in the history of human health has also been some of the most unethical. Research that has led to breakthroughs in psychology, cancer, polio, cloning, and extreme medicine, just to name a few, would not be allowed to be conducted today.
This module will introduce you to key ethical issues in health research. Through a mix of lectures and structured small group learning (SSGL), you will be introduced to essential ethical concepts in human health research, including consent, confidentiality, deception, and coercion; consider the influence of publication bias reimbursement for research participants, and fake data; explore the challenges of conducting research with vulnerable populations; and investigate the ethics of industry funding of research. Key examples – including Henrietta Lacks, the Stanford Prison Experiment, Stanley Milgram’s obedience experiments, professional guinea pigs, and the Dachau Hypothermia Experiments – will be used to prompt your learning. You will also have the opportunity to be part of a mock ethics committee, evaluating real research proposals.
If you are a student on the Medical Sciences Programme, this module can be taken with Introduction to Health Research to complete the Health Research pathway requirements for Year 2 or taken on its own as part of an interdisciplinary pathway.
This module is also open to students in Psychology and Sport & Health Sciences and will suit students who are interested in working in health research or engaging with research in their clinical practice.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to advance students’ understanding of ethical issues in health research and promote awareness of the challenges of conducting health research that is both ethical and innovative.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate an integrated understanding of the ethical principles that underpin contemporary human health research
- 2. Identify and interpret ethical guidelines for human health research in the UK and internationally
- 3. Explain the role of university and hospital ethics committees
- 4. Use an ethical framework to critically examine proposed and previous research studies
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. Understand the importance of conducting ethically sound human health research
- 6. Debate the contribution of unethical research to global improvements in human health
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Direct own learning
- 8. Manage time, workload, and ambiguity effectively.
- 9. Critically reflect on own values and ethical perspective
- 10. Work well in teams
- 11. Communicate clearly and efficiently in both written and oral formats
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:
Lecture Topics:
- What are ethics and why do we need them
- Ethical guidelines for health research
- The role of research ethics committees
- Human vs animal ethics
SSGLs Topics
- Consent and confidentiality
- Deception and coercion
- Vulnerable populations
- Adverse events and fake data
- Industry funding of health research
- Mock Ethics Committee
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
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20 | 127 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
Category | Hours of study time | Description |
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Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 8 | Lectures (4 weeks x 2hr lecture per week). |
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 12 | SSGL sessions (6 weeks x 2 hour workshop per week). |
Guided Independent study | 65 | Preparation for Lectures & SSGLs |
Guided Independent Study | 62 | Assessment preparation |
Formative assessment
Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Completion of SSGL Tasks | Throughout the module | 1,4-11 | Verbal feedback within session |
Participation in SSGL | Throughout module | 4-7, 9-11 | Verbal feedback within session |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
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80 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
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Short answer question (SAQ) Online Exam | 20 | 1 hour | 1,2,4-5,7-8,11 | Individual written feedback. |
Contribution to class Resources Portfolio | 5 | Leading discussion of one contribution to the Resources Portfolio in a randomly allocated workshop. | 1, 2, 4, 7-11 | Summary oral feedback to the whole group |
Ethical Case Studies | 75 | 3 pages (3 ethical case studies; 1 page response to each) | 1,3-9,11 | Individual written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
---|---|---|---|
Short answer question (SAQ) Online Exam (20 %) | Short answer question (SAQ) online exam (1 hour) | 1,2,4-5,7-8,11 | Ref/Def period |
Portfolio of Resources (5%) | Written summary of one contribution to the Resources Portfolio related to a randomly allocated workshop topic (1 page). | 1, 2, 4, 7-11 | Ref/Def period |
Ethical Case Studies (75%) | Ethical case studies (3 pages) | 1,3-9,11 | Ref/Def period |
Re-assessment notes
Please also refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Farrimond, H. (2013). Doing Ethical Research. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke, UK.
Skloot, R. (2011). The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Broadway Books: USA.
World Medical Association. (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20): 2191-2194.
Students will be expected to read or view and critically appraise a range of peer-reviewed journals and online materials related to the content of this module.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=10155
Web based and electronic resources will be available
Credit value | 15 |
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Module ECTS | 7.5 |
Module pre-requisites | None |
Module co-requisites | None |
NQF level (module) | 5 |
Available as distance learning? | No |
Origin date | 22/11/2016 |
Last revision date | 14/12/2023 |