With reference to the attached response (FOI 2023 102), under the Freedom of Information Act could you please provide the manner in which ethical considerations are taken into account along with how Informed Consent is to be obtained.
Thank you for your recent request dated 31st July 2023
The majority of our work is concerned with supporting others in their development of policy, services and communications designed to improve and protect health and wellbeing, and ethical considerations are integral to this work. In the guides and resources we produce, for example, Improving health and wellbeing: A guide to using behavioural science in policy and practice we advocate the use of published evidence from scientific research and/or engagement with the intended audience - “[a] co-productive approach that accounts for views and preferences, and respects choice”. We also recommend use of the Acceptability, Practicality, Effectiveness, Affordability, Spill-over effects, Equity (APEASE) criteria throughout partners activity, to facilitate consideration of many audience-specific aspects such as, the acceptability to the audience, positive and negative spill-over (side-effects) and equity. If new insight is to be gathered Consent Forms and Information Sheets would be used. Finally, we advocate for testing, monitoring and evaluation of activity to consider side-effects, as well as effectiveness.
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request and wish to make a complaint or request a review of the decision, you should write to the Corporate Complaints Manager, Public Health Wales NHS Trust, 3, Number 2, Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff, CF10 4BZ.
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint or review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Trust. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Information Commissioner for Wales
2nd Floor
Churchill House
Churchill Way
Cardiff
CF10 2HH
Telephone: 029 2067 8400
Email: wales@ico.org.uk