Member, Health Research Ethics Board

Are you intrigued by health care ethics? Have you been a participant in a research study or clinical trial? Have you ever completed a research ethics application?  If you answered yes to any of these questions – this unique opportunity might be for you! We are looking for patient partners who are very familiar with the participant side of research to join to the Health Research Ethics Board as a full member and be a voice for patients!

Open to: Patient partners from Victoria or Nanaimo

Lead Organization or Department

Island Health, Health Research Ethics Board

Aim

The Health Research Ethics Board (HREB) at Island Health is responsible for reviewing all health research applications involving Island Health patients, staff, resources, or data. Through the guidance of the Tri-council Policy Statement: Ethical Review for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2, 2014), we review applications and approve, modify or reject applications and are mindful of placing the psychological and physical safety of research study participants at the centre of everything we do. Informed consent is an important component to participating in any of these types of research studies. Any potential research participant should clearly understand what is being asked of them, the risks, the benefits, and why the research is being conducted (e.g. the research question). The Patient Board Member role on the HREB is a newly created position, as the board could benefit from someone closely connected to the participant side of research to review consent forms and be a voice for patients. Specifically, the patient partners will be asked to attend board meetings and contribute to discussions, and also conduct periodic research study reviews, providing the perspective of a patient through written feedback.

Level of Engagement

This opportunity is at the level of collaborate (at a local community or program level) on the spectrum of engagement. The promise to you is that the health care partner will look to you for advice in decision making, developing alternatives, and solutions and include your recommendations into the decision as much as possible.

Eligibility

• Experience in a research study or clinical trial as a participant
• Proficiency with computer systems and the ability to work with word processing, data management, and spreadsheet and data analysis programs. Access to a personal computer and internet required.
• Some familiarity or interest in research methodologies
• Experience with committees or boards would be an asset
• Strong reading, writing and critical thinking skills
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality. Understand that the work of HREB members is confidential in nature and this confidentiality must be preserved throughout and beyond any involvement with the HREB
• Willingness to study and understand the Tri-Council Policy Statement, and complete the Tri-Council Policy Statement 2 Core online training (Course is self-paced an on average takes 3 hours to complete) and San’yas Indigenous Cultural Safety Training. (Course is self-paced over an eight-week window and usually takes 8-10 hours to complete).

This opportunity is not open to patient partners who are currently employed by Island Health. The placement process for this opportunity will include an informal interview between the volunteer and the health care partner. Applicants must have previously attended a PVN orientation session and completed the Volunteer Agreement. If you have not attended an orientation session but you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Ashley Clark directly to see if accommodations may be possible.

Logistics

Number of vacancies: 2 Date, Time, Location: TBD. Board meetings are typically held six times per year, and are two hours in length. The next meeting scheduled for February 19, 2019. Location: Victoria and/or Nanaimo. Commitment: One-year with the option of extending. In addition to board meeting attendance, patient partners will be asked to conduct a research study review every ~3 weeks, on their own time. Reviews typically take 1-9 hours in length to complete.

Reimbursement

Reimbursement for travel is $15 per meeting attended. We also encourage meetings to be attended remotely by teleconference/videoconference.

Background

All health and human research conducted by researchers involving Island Health or involving Island Health facilities, patients, residents, clients, staff, physicians, current data holdings or other resources, requires ethical approval as part of the Institutional Approval process. The Health Research Ethics Board at Island Health is responsible for reviewing all health research applications involving Island Health patients, staff, resources, or data. Through the guidance of the Tri-council Policy Statement: Ethical Review for Research Involving Humans (TCPS2, 2014), we review applications and approve, modify or reject them with the goal of placing the psychological and physical safety of research study participants at the centre of everything we do. There are currently 12 HREB board members who come from diverse cultural backgrounds and bring professional skill sets in ethics, science, law and community. Island Health Research Ethics staff also contribute to this work.

Health Care Partner Contact Information

Ashley Clark
Engagement Leader, Patient & Public Engagement | Vancouver Island
250.812.8909
aclark@bcpsqc.ca