Table 2.
Strategies to facilitate ethics review of COVID-19 research and LA countries that adopted them
| Strategy | Categories | Countries | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organization model | Creation of a National Ad-hoc REC for COVID-19 research | Ecuador, Peru | 2 (20%) |
| Designation of a National REC for COVID-19 research review | Brazil, Dominican Republic, Panama | 3 (30%) | |
| Creation of an Ad-hoc REC for COVID-19 research under specific cases | Costa Rica | 1 (10%) | |
| No changes | Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Colombia | 4 (40%) | |
| Coordination between stakeholders | Coordination between RECs | Brazil, Chile | 2 (20%) |
| Coordination among RECs and other stakeholders (health authorities, NRA) | Colombia (between RECs and NRA) | 1 (10%) | |
| Operational guidance | Members’ availability | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica (CCSS), Ecuador, Panama, Peru | 7 (70%) |
| Emergency ethics training | Argentina | 1 (10%) | |
| Call for COVID-19-related experts | Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica (CCSS), Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru | 7 (70%) | |
| Virtual meetings | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica (CCSS), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru | 8 (80%) | |
| Reduced quorum | Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica (CCSS) | 3 (30%) | |
| Use of electronic means | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica (CCSS), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru | 8 (80%) | |
| Shorter time frames | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica (CCSS), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru | 9 (90%) | |
| Use of protocol models | Chile | 1 (10%) | |
| Decision-making procedures | Argentina, Costa Rica (CCSS), Ecuador, Peru | 4 (40%) | |
| Studies oversight | Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica (CCSS), Ecuador, Mexico, Peru | 6 (60%) | |
| Key ethical issues for review | The use of alternative informed consent processes | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru | 6 (60%) |
| The collection and store of samples and data for future research | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru | 6 (60%) | |
| Risk mitigation plans | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru | 7 (70%) | |
| Strategies for community engagement in COVID-19 research | Costa Rica | 1 (10%) | |
| Rapid data sharing | Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru | 4 (40%) | |
| Equal access to research benefits | Argentina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru | 4 (40%) |