- You must make the care and safety of the patient your first and continuing concern.
- You should ensure that you have gained ethical approval for any research you undertake on people or animals.
- You must work within relevant legislation.
- attempts to answer a clearly defined question
- employs systematic and rigorous methods
- leads to generalisable and new knowledge.297
References
297 Health Research Authority (2020) UK policy framework for health and social care research [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]- university ethics committees
- The Research Ethics Service, which is part of the Health Research Authority.299
References
298 General Optical Council (2016) Standards of Practice for Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]299 Health Research Authoriry. Research Ethics Service and Research Ethics Committees [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
References
300 NHS. Choose if data from your health records is shared for research and planning [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]301 NHS Digital. National data opt-out [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
- you should publish data of any trial in humans within one year of completion of the trial. This applies even if the trial appears to have been unsuccessful. Publishing all data helps to ensure the evidence base is robust.302
- you should not enter into contracts that restrict your ability to publish results or provide appropriate access to data. Such agreements can prevent researchers from independently publishing unbiased reports of their research
- you must not deliberately fabricate or falsify data or information
- you must not deliberately misrepresent data. Doing so may lead to untrue or misleading findings which may skew the evidence base
- you must not plagiarise others’ work
- you should declare any interest or connection relevant to the outcome of a research project in all dissemination. This will enable a fair evaluation of any potential conflicts of interest
- you should name all authors involved in a publication before submission of a paper, to ensure transparency
- you should avoid duplicate publication of material in multiple journals to ensure transparency for literature reviews and a robust evidence base.
References
302 All Trials campaign [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]- purpose
- scope
- topic
- criteria or standards.
References
303 Health Quality Improvement Partnership Guide to managing ethical issues in quality improvement or clinical audit projects November 2017 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]304 Health Research Authority and Medical Research Council. Is my study research? Decision tool [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
The College of Optometrists Clinical audit in optometric practice (2019) [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
The College of Optometrists Clinical audit training (members only) [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
Health Research Authority [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
Health Research Authority and Medical Research Council. Is my study research? Decision tool [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
NHS Digital: National data opt-out [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
NHS Research and Development Forum [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
NHS Research Scotland [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
NICE et al (2002) Principles for best practice in clinical audit. Oxford: Radcliffe Medical [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
UK Research Integrity Office (2009): Code of practice for research: promoting good practice and preventing misconduct [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
Data Protection Act 2018 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
The Human Tissue Act 2004 (Ethical Approval, Exceptions from Licensing and Supply of Information about Transplants) Regulations 2006 (SI 1260) [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]
Mental Capacity Act 2005 [Accessed 20 Nov 2020]