How well are researchers applying ethical principles and practices in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research? A cross-sectional study

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dc.contributor.authorKennedy, M.
dc.contributor.authorBooth, K.
dc.contributor.authorBryant, J.
dc.contributor.authorCollis, F.
dc.contributor.authorChamberlain, C.
dc.contributor.authorHughes, J.
dc.contributor.authorHobden, B.
dc.contributor.authorGriffiths, K.E.
dc.contributor.authorWenitong, M.
dc.contributor.authorO'Mara, P.
dc.contributor.authorBrown, A.
dc.contributor.authorEades, S.J.
dc.contributor.authorKong, K.M.
dc.contributor.authorLovett, R.W.
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractObjective: Describe perceptions of how well researchers conducting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research apply ethical research practices. Study design: Cross-sectional online survey. Setting, participants: Researchers who included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or their data in their projects, and current or past members (previous 5 years) of a human research ethics committee that assessed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research. Main outcome measures: Researchers’ engagement with 15 ethical research practices (on a 5-point Likert scale, poor to excellent). Results: 561 participants (382 researchers [68.1%] and 179 human research ethics committee members [31.9%]) completed the survey. Across all research practices, a rating of excellent was least frequently endorsed, with the highest frequency being for employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members (38 participants [6.8%]). A rating of poor was most common for enacting Indigenous data sovereignty and governance principles (156 participants [27.8%]). Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents had significantly lower odds of perceiving high levels of adherence to ethical principles than non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents for all ethical principles, except employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team members. In particular, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants had 65% lower odds of perceiving that researchers have high rates of adhering to disseminating results back to the community (odds ratio [OR], 0.35; 95% CI, 0.22–0.57), 56% lower odds of perceiving that researchers have high rates of adhering to engaging Aboriginal community in research implementation (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.27–0.73), and 54% lower odds of perceiving that researchers have high rates of adhering to engaging Aboriginal community in developing research questions (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.28–0.75). Conclusion: Researchers are not consistently implementing all ethical practices outlined in guidelines for research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We call for commitment from researchers, institutions and funding bodies to address shortfalls, embed processes, and hold researchers accountable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and the principles and guidelines they have established.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMichelle Kennedy (Wiradjuri), Kade Booth, Jamie Bryant, Felicity Collis (Gomeroi), Catherine Chamberlain (Palawa), Jaquelyne Hughes (Wagadagam),Breanne Hobden, Kalinda E Griffiths (Yawuru), Mark Wenitong (Kabi Kabi), Peter O, Mara (Wiradjuri), Alex Brown (Yuin), Sandra J Eades (Noongar), Kelvin M Kong (Worimi), Raymond W Lovett (Wongaibon Ngiyampaa)
dc.identifier.citationMedical Journal of Australia, 2025; 222(S2):S49-S56
dc.identifier.doi10.5694/mja2.52572
dc.identifier.issn0025-729X
dc.identifier.issn0025-729X
dc.identifier.orcidBrown, A. [0000-0003-2112-3918]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/144623
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherWiley
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/2001767
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1158670
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/GNT1137563
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1174758
dc.rights© 2025 AMPCo Pty Ltd.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52572
dc.subjectBiomedical Research
dc.subjectCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subjectEthics Committees, Research
dc.subjectEthics, Research
dc.subjectHealth Services, Indigenous
dc.subjectResearch Personnel
dc.subjectSurveys and Questionnaires
dc.subjectAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
dc.subject.meshBiomedical Research
dc.subject.meshCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.meshEthics Committees, Research
dc.subject.meshEthics, Research
dc.subject.meshHealth Services, Indigenous
dc.subject.meshResearch Personnel
dc.subject.meshSurveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.meshHumans
dc.subject.meshAdult
dc.subject.meshMiddle Aged
dc.subject.meshAustralia
dc.subject.meshFemale
dc.subject.meshMale
dc.subject.meshAustralian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
dc.titleHow well are researchers applying ethical principles and practices in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and medical research? A cross-sectional study
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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