Page 191 - Encyclopedia of Nursing Research

158 n ETHNOGERiATRiCS

Because integrity integrates several of risk, and on decisions of allocation. These
virtues inherent in moral character, ethi- are familiar ethical issues. However, in the
E cal investigators prize it and avoid lapses future, as ethical issues related to societal
in integrity. One such lapse is scientific changes and to advances in science and tech-
(research) misconduct, which may take the nology intensify, they will present unprece-
forms of plagiarism, data falsification, data dented and compelling moral challenges for
fabrication, irresponsible authorship, and investigators and for the ethics of research.
questionable research practices. Plagiarism Two such challenges are transgenics and
refers to passing off as one’s own the ideas or synthetic DNA. Nevertheless, regardless
words of another. Data falsification refers to of the challenges, the one uncompromising
manipulating research results by altering or principle underlying all research is that it be
omitting them so that their validity is ques- ethical.
tionable. Data fabrication refers to making up
of research results. irresponsible authorship Mary Cipriano Silva
refers to claiming authorship credit when
one’s role as author and/or researcher is neg-
ligible. Questionable research practices refer
to deviating from acceptable ethical stan- EthnogEriatrics
dards in the conduct, evaluation, dissemina-
tion, or application of research into practice.
To deter unethical behavior related to the Ethnogeriatrics, an evolving geriatrics sub-
preceding five components of scientific mis- specialty, is a multidisciplinary approach
conduct, individuals and organizations have to eldercare focusing on the interrelated-
instituted safeguards for research. These ness of aging, health, ethnicity, geriatrics,
safeguards include the U.S. Department ethno-gerontology, and transcultural health,
of Health and Human Services Office of specific to quality health care and quality
Research integrity, research review boards, of life in racial/ethnic minorities. The U.S.
policy documents and guidelines, peer and Census Bureau (2008a) categories for racial/
editor reviews of research publications, use ethnic groups are Black/African American,
of best research evidence for practice, and American indian and Alaska Native, Asian
opportunities for Magnet status. American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native
Future directions for research include (a) Hawaiian/Pacific islander. By 2050, one
generation of ethical research guidelines for third of the population 65 years and older
unprecedented advances in science and tech- from this group is projected to be Black/
nology that pose moral issues, (b) selection African American, Hispanic/Latino, and
of interdisciplinary teams of researchers and “other races” category, mainly of Asian and
ethicists to monitor the impact of unprec- Pacific islander groups (Administration on
edented advances in science and technol- Aging, 2009). These growth rates, persistent
ogy on research participants and on human health disparities, health literacy, and cul-
rights in research, and (c) further develop- tural and language challenges underscore
ment of ethical position statements on the an ethnogeriatric imperative (institute of
current and future use of tele-health and the Medicine, 2008; Smedley, Stith, & Nelson,
internet in research. 2003; Yeo, 2009).
in summary, the ethics of research are Some key concepts in ethnogeriat-
primarily based on ethical principles and on rics include heterogeneity, cultural values
moral character. Within these parameters, and traditions, health beliefs and practices,
ethical issues arise. Examples included herein health literacy, access to health care, accul-
focused on nature of autonomy, on severity turation, language and communication,