Table 2 Five main themes and related sub-themes identified during qualitative analysis
Themes | Sub-themes |
|---|---|
Rapidly evolving research ethics landscape | Risk to benefit analysis as a moving target Placebo use in ongoing vaccine research Standard of care Post-trial access Social value |
Extreme vulnerability of research participants | Individual and population vulnerability COVID-19 stigmatisation and prejudice Therapeutic misconception |
Unique challenges to informed consent | Impact of fear and isolation on individual autonomy Challenges ‘on the ground’ Divergent views on consent waivers |
Challenges to community engagement during COVID-19 | RECs own role in community engagement The ‘who, when and how’ of community engagement during a pandemic |
Overlapping research ethics and public health equity issues | Inequitable burden of research Equity in research agendas Inequities in access |