Name
Chamberlain University
NR-585: Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice for Advanced Nursing Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Learning about the history of research ethics significantly shaped my understanding of the critical role ethical standards play in protecting human subjects. Historical cases such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the Nazi medical experiments revealed the devastating consequences of unethical research practices. These events underscored the necessity for strict guidelines and contributed to the development of key ethical frameworks, including the Nuremberg Code, the Belmont Report, and the establishment of Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) (Chamberlain College of Nursing, 2025).
This historical perspective emphasizes that research is not only about scientific advancement but also about respecting the dignity, rights, and welfare of participants. As a result, I now view research as a responsibility that requires ongoing vigilance, transparency, and accountability to prevent exploitation and to promote trust in the scientific process.
In the research articles I examined for my PICOT question, researchers implemented several safeguards to ensure participant protection. These steps included:
Protective Measures Identified | Description |
---|---|
Informed Consent | Participants were provided with detailed information about the study’s purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits before agreeing to participate. |
Confidentiality | Data was handled with strict privacy protocols, ensuring that participants’ identities were protected. |
IRB Approval | All studies underwent Institutional Review Board reviews to verify compliance with ethical standards. |
Right to Withdraw | Participants were given the autonomy to withdraw from the study at any point without penalty. |
Minimization of Risk | Researchers ensured that potential risks were minimized and that benefits outweighed harms. |
While these measures are commendable, I would recommend additional actions to strengthen ethical protections. These include:
Community Engagement: Involving diverse populations in research design and recruitment to increase inclusivity and trust.
Transparency in Reporting: Providing full disclosure of methodologies, funding sources, and potential conflicts of interest.
Equitable Access: Ensuring vulnerable populations are not excluded from participation, which improves the generalizability of findings.
Disparities in research commonly occur when certain demographic groups—such as women, racial minorities, and low-income populations—are underrepresented. This underrepresentation limits the applicability of study results to broader populations, often perpetuating health inequities and reinforcing systemic biases.
In my review of research articles for the PICOT question, I did not find explicit evidence of disparities. The studies specifically targeted pregnant women with hypertension, making their findings highly relevant to this group. However, this focused approach may also unintentionally overlook the diversity within the population, such as variations in race, socioeconomic status, or geographic location.
Future research should therefore address these gaps by ensuring more inclusive sampling methods. Investigating diverse subgroups within the population could provide deeper insights into how cultural, economic, and social determinants of health influence treatment outcomes. This would not only improve the quality of evidence but also support more equitable healthcare practices.
Chamberlain College of Nursing. (2025). NR 585 Research Methods and Evidence-Based Practice for Advanced Nursing Practice: Week 5—Ethical Research [Online lesson]. Adtalem Global Education.