However, such research projects must still follow USN’s guidelines for health research if they concern health in a broader sense and meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Involve human participants through some form of intervention
- Pose a risk of harm, or discomfort to, participants
- Handle personal data related to health (health information)
- Are conducted in hospitals or care institutions
Examples of such projects may include:
- Health services research
- Research on care, welfare, and health technology
- Public health research
- Sports science research
- “Health research” involving healthy individuals (prevention/promotion)
In some cases, it may be unclear what type of research project is involved and which criteria it meets.
Are You Unsure?
If you are uncertain whether your research project falls under the Health Research Act, you can:
- Carefully review the description of health research projects in the REK Portal
- Ask colleagues or your academic advisor for advice
- Read the guide on the scope of the Health Research Act by the National Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (NEM).
- Contact the Department for Research, Innovation and Library Services at: forskningsetikk@usn.no
- Submit a preliminary assessment request to REK. This assessment may take 2–3 weeks and should only be requested if the above steps do not provide clarity. It is important to note that even if REK states that they do not assess your type of project, this does not mean the project has been “approved.” It only means that the project falls outside REK’s mandate for evaluation.