Table 1 Summary of descriptive characteristics of participants (n = 21)
Participant code | Gender | REC status | REC experience (years) | Ethics qualificationa | Expertise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
REC1 | Male | Chair |  > 15 | Postgraduate Diploma | Clinical specialist Regulatory affairs Research ethics |
REC2 | Female | Chair | 10–15 | Masters | Health professional Bioethics |
REC3 | Female | Member | 10–15 | Postgraduate Diploma | Professional care Research ethics |
REC4 | Female | Chair |  > 15 | Honours | Health professional Qualitative methods Applied ethics |
REC5 | Male | Chair |  > 15 | – | Medical scientist Quantitative methods |
REC6 | Female | Member | 10–15 | Postgraduate Diploma | Health professional Research ethics |
REC7 | Female | Member | 1–5 | – | Laboratory scientist |
REC8 | Female | Member |  > 15 | Doctorate | Bioethics Social scientist |
REC9 | Male | Member | 6–10 | – | Clinical specialist Clinician researcher |
REC10 | Female | Member | 1–5 | – | Health professional |
REC11 | Female | Member | 10–15 | – | Clinical specialist Quantitative methods |
REC12 | Female | Member | 10–15 | – | Health professional Qualitative methods |
REC13 | Female | Member | 1–5 | – | Clinical specialist |
REC14 | Male | Chair | 6–10 | Postgraduate Diploma | Laboratory scientist Research ethics |
REC15 | Female | Chair |  > 15 | Doctorate | Clinical specialist Research ethics Biostatistics |
REC16 | Female | Chair |  > 15 | Postgraduate Diploma | Health professional Research ethics |
REC17 | Male | Chair |  > 15 | – | Professional care |
REC18 | Female | Chair | 6–10 | Postgraduate Diploma | Health professional Research ethics |
REC19 | Female | Member | 1–5 | – | Social scientist |
REC20 | Female | Chair | 10–15 | – | Laboratory scientist |
REC21 | Female | Member |  > 15 | Doctorate | Legally qualified Research ethics |