Table 2.
Themes and subthemes with the number of codes referring the role of nursing members in research ethics committees
| Theme | Subtheme | MEDa | HASb | LAYc | NRSd |
| Share perspectives and experiences in nursing | Use specific nursing knowledge and clinical expertise | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Share expertise and the nursing perspective | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Clarify the differences between nursing and other professional healthcare perspectives | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| Support advisory committees regarding nursing research proposals | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | |
| Provide medical and research information to non-medical members | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| Express opinions | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| Protect research participants | Predict the possible burden of participation on research participants | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Evaluate their risks and benefits | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Propose ways to lessen the burden on the participants | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| Support research participants’ interests | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Assess the protection of research participants’ rights | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |
| Evaluate the research design | Evaluate the research design | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Consider whether the research can be conducted | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| Inspect the research proposal for contradictions and flaws | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| Clarify the distinctions between medical practice and the research protocol | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Assess the work burden of clinical nurses | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| Represent the voice of research participants | Speak on behalf of research participants | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Assume research participants’ thoughts | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Act as bridge between research participants and healthcare professionals | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Confirm the informed consent documents | Confirm that research participants can understand the informed consent documents | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Examine the appropriateness of the informed consent documents for participants | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Ensure that participants receive all necessary information | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
| Ascertain research participants’ free will | Ascertain research participants’ free will to participate in research | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Assess research participants’ ability to consent | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
a Number of codes answered by medical members
b Number of codes answered by humanities/social science members
c Number of codes answered by lay members
d Number of codes answered by nursing members