A half day workshop and discussion on “Ethics & the Dissemination of Research Findings” by Ms. Anna Chiumento, a PhD student and staff member at the Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, UK, was held on 8th of November at Institute for Research and Development.
Ms. Chiumento’s study titled: “Researchers Construction and Management of Ethical Issues in Post-Conflict Mental Health Research: A Qualitative Study” explored researchers’ experiences of ethical issues that arise in mental health research with post-conflict populations. It was a multi-site study conducted in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan.
During the first half of the session, a broad historical look at the emergence of research ethics, including conflicting interpretations and the regulatory regimes that now surround ethical research in health was presented. Ms. Chiumento presented findings from the literature review she had completed for her PhD which focuses on ethical principles applicable to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) research in humanitarian settings, and identifying some key unresolved debates.
The research findings of her study are important as it has been conducted among three different countries. The discussion session was mainly focused on practical strategies to promote best-practice in Sri Lanka and development of reflective questions to provide self-care support for researchers. Similar workshops were conducted in Pakistan and Nepal also. Ms. Chiumento will share her experiences on this study, via the next Gaveshana Magazine volume.
