Awareness of University Professors about the role of the Research Ethics Committee

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the awareness of professors in a Brazilian Public University about the performance of the Research Ethics Committee in the assessment of protocols as well as their understanding on the meaning of the committee´s recommendations. Through a semi-structured interview, it was developed between December 2010 and June 2011 with teachers of different subjects of a State university. The technique of content analysis was applied in which two categories were identified: regulation of research involving humans and Submission of Protocols for the CEP evaluation. Speeches reveal that teachers know the Resolution 196/96 in an unsatisfactory manner. They positively evaluate the performance of the CEP, although they have limitations regarding the knowledge about the procedure of ethics assessment. For professors, the CEP assessment meant a necessary process to ensure rights of research subjects and allow subsequent publication of data.