An exploratory study on research ethics at the interface of health sciences amongst postgraduates at a University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal

Abstract

Research ethics are essential in terms of safeguarding research participants and maintaining the integrity of the scientific inquiry. It includes principles and guidelines designed to protect participants' rights and welfare while promoting ethical behaviour among researchers. In the Health Sciences, research ethics are crucial in terms of its direct impact on human health and the well-being of participants. Despite the importance of research ethics, there is a significant lack of research and literature related to the readiness of postgraduate students in South Africa to address ethical challenges in their research. No studies have explored this readiness at the selected University of Technology. This study investigated how postgraduate students conceptualised research ethics in the Health Sciences. Using a qualitative research design, data was collected through online interviews with fifteen postgraduate students from various disciplines within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Technology in KwaZulu-Natal, in 2022. The findings indicated that postgraduate students had a reasonably good understanding of research ethics in health science research. However, the study revealed that these students faced challenges in addressing critical ethical issues in their research. Additionally, there were varied experiences regarding supervision during the research process and differing perspectives on the training received in research ethics. The findings suggested a critical need for a dedicated research ethics module to be included as part of the postgraduate curriculum