Table 5 Summary of methods used for Institutional assessment of research ethics

1

Review of published documents

1.University Research Strategy

2.Policy on Ethics and Ethical conduct in research

3.Guidelines on the ethical conduct of research involving humans as participants at the University of Botswana

4.Application for IRB approval for research involving human participants

5.Checklist for ethical review by the IRB members

2

Institutional Survey

Focuses on current research ethics capacity, organizational and operational structures, practices, training, policies, funding, and human resources.

Institutional leaders

3

In-depth interviews

Interviews conducted with the aim of exploring key facts and activities by institution in the areas of health research, research ethics and bioethics.

•Departmental heads

•Research ethics committee chairs

•Senior academics

•Researcher representatives

4

Focus group discussions

To assess experiences with ethics training, ethics review procedures, and institutional relationships.

•IRB members

•Researchers

•Research staff

•Graduate student representatives

5

Survey of IRB Representatives

An individual survey focusing on perception of IRB operations and needs

Members of the IRB