Conducting research in community-based care facilities: ethical and regulatory implications

Abstract

Successful research in community-based care settings requires collaboration between facility staff and researchers. The ethical conduct of research involves respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Research must comply with specific federal regulations and state laws. Interviews with 15 community-based care facility administrators revealed differences in understanding how research is regulated and the influence that research might have when a facility provides access to researchers. A Facility Bill of Rights describes principles related to the ethical conduct of research and questions to consider when deciding whether to provide researchers with access to a facility.