Trends and Outcomes of Health Research Ethics Committee Applications in a Nigerian Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Study

Abstract Background: Bioethics is fundamental to the conduct of health research, and the dissemination of research findings constitutes an ethical obligation. The Health Research Ethics Committee (HREC) applications play a central role in safeguarding ethical standards throughout the research process. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the trends and outcomes of HREC applications in a Nigerian tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This was a 4-year retrospective review of research protocol applications submitted to the Federal Medical Center, Abuja HREC between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2024. Data extracted included the number of applications, study type, purpose, specialty, study location, source of sponsorship, and approval outcomes. Results were summarized using tables and charts. Results: A total of 140 protocol applications were reviewed. The number of submissions increased progressively from 20 (14.3%) in 2021 to 23 (16.4%) in 2022, 37 (26.4%) in 2023, and 60 (42.9%) in 2024. Most applications involved adult study populations (128; 91.4%) and were submitted for academic degree requirements (127; 90.7%). Funding sources included grants in 12 (8.6%) protocols, government agencies in 59 (42.1%), and self-sponsorship in 69 (49.3%), whereas cross-sectional studies predominated (72.9%). Regarding research outputs, 17 (12.1%) studies were published, whereas 2 (1.4%) studies were presented at scientific conferences. Conclusion: There was a steady increase in HREC applications over the study period, reflecting growing research activity. However, the low rate of publication highlights a significant gap in research output dissemination, underscoring the need for institutional strategies to promote timely reporting and public sharing of research findings.