Some studies are exempt from REB review; determination of exemption is based on regulatory and institutional criteria. Information on exemptions is provided in Chapter 2 of the TCPS 2 (2022) and can be accessed via the following link: TCPS 2 (2022) Articles 2.1-2.6. Researchers conducting a US federally-funded study should familiarize themselves with the US exemptions which can be accessed via the following link: 45 CFR 46.
Whether or not a project is exempt from ethical review is the decision of the REB. Please seek the opinion of the Island Health Research Ethics & Compliance Office before initiating a project.
Island Health REBs will not review or acknowledge research that has already been conducted.
- Case Reports
-
Case Reports of one or two do not generally require formal research ethics review at Island Health. Please review the guidance documentation, and proceed per its instructions. For information about this, contact ResearchEthics@islandhealth.ca.
Guidance Case Reports and Research Ethics Review
- Quality Improvement (QI)/ Quality Assurance (QA) and Program Evaluation Projects
-
The current TCPS 2 (2022) defines research as “an undertaking intended to extend knowledge through a disciplined inquiry and/or systematic investigation” and states that quality assurance studies, performance reviews, or testing within normal educational requirements do not constitute research, and do not fall within the scope of REB review.
TCPS 2 (2022), Article 2.5, further defines quality assurance studies as studies related directly to assessing the performance of an organization or its employees or students, within the mandate of the organization or according to the terms and conditions of employment or training.
Only research projects should be submitted for ethical review. Quality assurance projects and program evaluations are not considered research and do not require review by an REB. Intention to publish the findings does not determine whether something is research or quality assurance.
For more information about QI Ethics, please visit the QI Ethics webpage.