Treatment of Human Subjects in Research

GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATION AND RELATED ACTIVITIES INVOLVING HUMAN PARTICIPANTS 

AND 

UNIVERSITY POLICY STATEMENT

Introduction

Since 1965, agencies of the federal government have been establishing policies and regulations concerning the use of human participants in research, development, or demonstration projects. Though these regulations initially dealt with medical research, they have been expanded to include all biomedical and behavioral research and "related activities." (Related activities are those labeled as other than research or development; for instance, training, demonstration, improvement, or support, but which nevertheless contain an R & D component.) The applicable regulations are Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Subtitle A, Part 46, published in the Federal Register on May 30, 1974, revised November 13, 2001, effective December 13, 2001.

Essentially, these regulations require that any institution receiving funds from the federal government must have an institutional review board for determining if projects involving human participants meet federal guidelines for the protection of those participants.

At Emporia State University, the mandated board is the Institutional Review Board for Treatment of Human Participants, which is responsible to the President through the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs. This board is also responsible for assuring that the University policy relative to human subjects research is appropriately implemented. All faculty, staff, or students wanting approval to use human participants must first review the IRB Training Module and take the Human Subjects Training Quiz. A score of 80% is required before approval can be given to proceed with the research. Both the IRB Training Module and the Quiz are available on Canvas.  The instructions for locating the module and quiz are included at the end of this document.

In fulfilling the basic requirements of the Federal Regulations and the University policy, the following procedures must be followed:

The Principal Investigator (or cognizant faculty member) must determine if the human participants used in the research project or related activity (or research or related activity being conducted under their supervision) will be placed at risk. If so, then even if the risks are minimal, the researcher must demonstrate that the potential benefits of the research will outweigh any risks involved. When such can be shown and is approved by the Institutional Review Board, the principal investigator can conduct the research activity so long as appropriate consideration is given to the following three items:

The Institutional Review Board, then, is charged with the responsibility of reviewing all experimentation involving humans as participants and thus to insure that the rights and welfare of the participants are protected. However, a second purpose is to facilitate research within the University. Therefore, the Institutional Review Board seeks not only to protect the interests of human participants and of the University, but also to safeguard the interests of the investigators or the individuals responsible for the research.

The Review Board's responsibilities do not cover evaluation of the quality of research, but only evaluation of the adequacy of the protection of the rights and welfare of human participants in research.

Finally, the jurisdiction of the Review Board includes all experimental activities involving the rights and welfare of human participants both at the University and elsewhere, when carried out by staff or students of the University acting in any capacity related to the institution. Faculty and staff under whose direction students may conduct experiments with human beings are reminded of their responsibility to insure compliance with these policies and procedures.  


DETERMINATION OF THE NEED FOR REVIEW

 

Does my research need IRB approval?

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) provides oversight and institutional reviews of research activities involving human subjects to ensure that the University remains in compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.

If your research project fits the definition of “research” with “human subjects,” as those terms are defined in the federal regulations that govern human subjects research, then you need IRB approval to conduct research.

In light of the IRB’s mission to protect human subjects, and the potential regulatory consequences of not obtaining IRB review and approval for human subjects research, you should choose to err on the side of caution and consult the IRB when you are uncertain whether your study is human subjects research or not.

Definitions:

Research as defined by DHHS is a systematic investigation, including research development, testing, and evaluation, designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge.

Human Subject is defined by DHHS as a living individual about whom a research investigator (whether a professional or a student) obtains data through intervention or interaction with the individual or from individually identifiable information.

Intervention as defined by DHHS regulations means both physical procedures by which data are gathered (for example, venipuncture) and manipulations of the subject or the subject’s environment that are performed for research purposes. [45 CFR 46.102(f)]

Interaction as defined by DHHS regulations means communication or interpersonal contact between investigator and subject. [45 CFR 46.102(f)]

Private information as defined by DHHS regulations means information about behavior that occurs in a context in which an individual can reasonably expect that no observation or recording is taking place, and information which has been provided for specific purposes by an individual and which the individual can reasonably expect will not be made public (for example, a medical record). [45 CFR 46.102(f)]

Identifiable information as defined by DHHS means information that is individually identifiable (i.e., the identity of the subject is or may readily be ascertained by the investigator or associated with the information).

 

DETERMINATION OF "SUBJECT AT RISK"

A subject or individual is considered to be "at risk" if that individual may be exposed to the possibility of injury, including physical, psychological, or social injury as a consequence of participation as a subject in any research, development, or related activity which departs from those established and accepted methods necessary to meet the student's needs, or which increases the ordinary risks of daily life, including the recognized risks inherent in a chosen occupation or field of service. Risk may be a consequence of participation as a subject in a research, development or demonstration project or in other activities such as attitude surveys of students in classes, organizations, dormitories, etc.

Risk does not include accepted and established service functions such as the normal relationship of patients to physicians; students to teachers; and other clients to professionals in which the patient, student, or client (or authorized representative) is receiving aid or services intended only to meet his/her own personal needs. The requirement of strenuous physical exertion, subjection to deceit, public embarrassment and humiliation are all examples of procedures which require thorough scrutiny by the principal investigator and the Institutional Review Board for Treatment of Human Participants.

Many medical, social and behavioral projects and activities involve no immediate physical risk to the subject; however, they may involve different degrees of discomfort, harassment, invasion of privacy, or may constitute a threat to the subject's dignity through the imposition of demeaning or dehumanizing conditions; e.g., those utilizing personality inventories, interviews, questionnaires, or the use of observation, photographs, taped records, or stored data. Projects posing these types of risks are subject to the review and approval of the Institutional Review Board for Treatment of Human Participants.


SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION

If a project or activity places individuals at risk, the proposal must carefully describe the procedures for safeguarding information that could be traced to or identified with the human participants.


INFORMED CONSENT

Informed consent is the agreement obtained from a subject (or authorized representative) to the subject's participation in a project or activity. Every human being has a legal right to determine what should and should not be done to his/her body and/or mind, and every director of a project or activity which involves the use of human participants must respect such rights regardless of the potential benefits or value of any proposed procedure. If the subject is a minor (under 18 years), is incompetent, or is under some other legal disability, consent must be obtained from the legal guardian of such person and from the subject unless that subject is very young (under 8 years old) or a court has declared the subject legally incompetent.

 

A consent is valid only if it is an "informed" consent. The consent must be made after the proposed procedure, treatment, or activity and the risks, dangers and possible complications have been carefully described to the subject and/or authorized representative.

Informed consent given for a particular procedure or treatment does not extend to a different procedure, treatment, or activity, or to a procedure or treatment involving different or greater risks or hazards. Different or more dangerous procedures or treatments require separate and specific consent.

If, under certain circumstances, a consent document is deemed unnecessary or undesirable, the circumstances must be carefully explained and justified to the Institutional Review Board for Treatment of Human Participants before the project can be approved.

Basic Elements of Informed Consent

All informed consent documents must include the following basic elements:

1.           A statement that the study involves research, an explanation of the purposes of the research, a description of the procedures to be followed, including an identification of those which are experimental, and the expected duration of the subject’s participation;

2.           A description of any reasonably foreseeable discomforts or risks;

3.           A description of the benefits to the participants or others which may be reasonably expected from the research;

4.           A disclosure of appropriate alternative procedures, if any, that would be advantageous for the subject;

5.           A statement describing the extent, if any, to which confidentiality of data identifying the participants will be maintained;

6.           For research involving more than minimal risk, an explanation as to whether any compensation, and an explanation as to whether any medical treatments are available if injury occurs, and if so, what they consist of or where further information may be obtained;

7.           An offer to answer any inquiries concerning the procedures and an explanation of whom to contact in the event the subject has questions later or sustains a research related injury;

8.           An instruction that participation is voluntary and the subject is free to withdraw consent and to discontinue participation in the project or activity at any time without any penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled, and refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled;

9.           The agreement, whether written or oral, entered into by the subject should include no exculpatory language (that which would free the faculty member or institution from guilt) through which the subject is made to waive, or seem to waive, any legal rights, or to release the institution or its agents from liability or negligence.

Procedures for Obtaining Informed Consent

The actual procedure for obtaining informed consent is to be fully documented in one of the following two ways:

Completed forms must be retained in the department office or other appropriate administrative unit of the principal investigator for a minimum of three years after termination of the project.


PROCEDURES FOR REVIEWING AND MONITORING PROJECTS

Submission to the Institutional Review Board - At least one month before beginning research or related activities involving human participants (or before submitting a funding proposal involving human participants to an external agency) the principal investigator forwards one copy of the "Application for Approval to Use Human Participants" to the Administrator of the Institutional Review Board at bjones17@emporia.edu, along with a definitive statement of the proposed research or related activity and how human participants are to be used in the study. The Administrator scans the application and the statement of activity to insure that the following procedures are carefully described:

If these conditions are not satisfied, the proposal is returned to the originator with statements of what provisions must be added.


TYPES OF REVIEW

FULL REVIEW - Full committee review is required for all research involving greater than minimal risk to participants, as well for all research activities involving vulnerable subject populations, including but not limited to children, elderly, and psychiatric patients.

When the application satisfies the four requirements mentioned above, the Chair will forward the application to the Review Board for their perusal. Committee members have three options in casting their vote regarding each request.

1. Approval without comments, suggestions and/or restrictions 2. Approval with comments, suggestions and/or restrictions 3. Disapproval with comments

The Chair informs the principal investigator of the Review Board's decision by letter. If any comments, suggestions and/or restrictions are made, these are included with a statement that the principal investigator must assure the Review Board in writing that any stipulations specified in the approval letter will be satisfied. Furthermore, any anticipated procedural changes in carrying out the project must be approved by the Review Board before such changes are implemented.

EXPEDITED REVIEW - Expedited review is provided for research which involves no more than minimal risk or for review of minor changes in previously approved research protocols. This review requires approval of the Chair only. In order for the application to be eligible for expedited review, all of the following requirements must be satisfied.

EXEMPTED REVIEW - The following cases may exempt your research project from full IRB review, as determined by the Chair.

1. Research involving normal educational practices;

2. Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey or interview procedures, or observation of public behavior, unless the obtained information is recorded in such a manner that human participants can be identified;

3. Research involving the use of educational tests (cognitive, diagnostic, aptitude, achievement), survey or interview procedures, or observation of public behavior that is not exempt under (2) if the participants are elected or appointed public officials or candidates for public office, or federal statutes require without exception the confidentiality of the personally identifiable information be maintained throughout the research and thereafter;

4. Research involving the collection or study of existing data, documents, records, or pathological or diagnostic specimens if these sources are publicly available, or if the information is recorded in such a manner that participants cannot be identified;

5. Research and demonstration projects that are conducted by or subject to the approval of department or agency heads, and which are designed to study, evaluate, or otherwise examine public benefit or service programs; and

6. Taste and food quality evaluation and consumer acceptance studies.


MODIFICATIONS TO RESEARCH PROTOCOL

Typically, approval is given for research protocols for a period of one year from the approval date. If it is necessary to conduct research with participants past this expiration date, it will be necessary to submit a request for a time extension. If the original protocol was approved for longer than one year, the principal investigator must submit an annual update.  Likewise, if there have been any modifications to the original approved protocol, such as changes in survey instruments, changes in procedures, or changes to possible risks to participants, the principal investigator must submit a request for approval for modifications. The above requests should be submitted on the appropriate form, REQUEST FOR TIME EXTENSION, ANNUAL UPDATE, or MODIFICATION TO RESEARCH PROTOCOL (link is included at the beginning of this document.)

Requests for time extensions should be submitted at least 30 days before the expiration date. Annual updates should be submitted within 30 days after each 12-month period. Modifications should be submitted as soon as it becomes evident that changes have occurred or will need to be made.

   

THE INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD

The Institutional Review Board for Treatment of Human Participants was established in 1975. The Board is composed of six regular members, with one member being non university personnel, which is consistent with federal requirements.

 

A quorum of the Board is four. Although only a favorable majority vote is necessary for approval, the Board strives for a unanimous decision by suggesting changes or additions in procedure that satisfy objections raised by Board members. The Board aims to deliver a decision within 30 calendar days of initial approval application. Following is a list of the current members of the Board.

  

HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH TRAINING

All faculty, staff, or students wanting approval to use human participants must enroll in the CITI Human Subjects Research training program. The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) at the University of Miami is the leading provider of web-based training materials and Emporia State University is a participating institution.  The CITI training program is customized to ESU and contains modules for IRB members, Biological/Biomedical Researchers, and Social/Behavioral/Educational Researchers. The training program includes 8-10 courses for each "learner" group, plus electives.  Reseachers must receive a score of at least 80% to successfully complete the training and to receive a certificate of completion.  

Link to Instructions.pdf

 

APPENDIX A

EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY POLICY FOR THE UTILIZATION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS IN RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

I. Members of an academic community engaged in research and related activities involving the use of human participants have obligations to their participants and to the University. This Policy is intended to give broad guidelines for conducting such research.

II. Commitment to the Risk/Benefit concept. In brief, there are no absolutes. Each investigator must make a judgment of the benefits likely to result from the research in the light of the possible risks to the subject.

III. Specific Principles:

A. Protection of Participants

Because research participation usually has pedagogical value and also provides benefits to the investigator, alternative participation opportunities should be provided. These should be equally demanding of the students' time and effort and they should be designed for pedagogical purposes. Equal bonus credit should be obtainable through either form of voluntary participation.

When bonus credit is utilized, the instructor must first assign grades on the basis of his routine appraisal of student achievement. The grades of volunteers may then be adjusted upward. The adjustment upward of grades should be commensurate with the value of the activity and the effort required. Care should be exercised to fully inform students of the potential for increasing their grade through volunteer participation.

6. Instructors should exercise extreme care in recruiting participants for their own research from their own classes. Students must not feel pressured to participate at the request of their instructor.

7. Instructors should not require students in their own class to collect data for scientific investigations of their own or others. However, a) they may recruit paid assistants from class while being mindful of no. 6 above; and, b) they may assign students to data collection tasks when this assignment is appropriate to keep the time and effort involved commensurate with the importance of the objective. 

8. Surveys and questionnaires of student behavior, beliefs, etc. must be utilized with due regard to the student's right to privacy. Therefore, all previous principles apply equally here. Particularly salient are participants' rights to privacy and the necessity to obtain informed consent (see no. 4 above).

B. Responsibility to the University

C. Responsibilities of the Investigator

IV. It is possible that the preceding ethical guidelines may seem, under certain circumstances, to come into conflict with cherished principles such as academic freedom or freedom of intellectual inquiry. To serve the latter while violating human rights is a difficult position to defend. Put in stark terms, there can be a conflict between the values of science to benefit all and the values that emphasize concern for the individual subject. Such conflicts cannot be resolved through recourse to absolutes, but they can perhaps be reduced through attention to the preceding principles.