Ethical Considerations in a Qualitative Literature Review Study

The study uses a qualitative literature review design exclusively with secondary data. This approach means no direct data collection from individuals, eliminating interaction with patients, healthcare workers, or vulnerable groups. Consequently, there is no risk of harm to participants.

Ethical principles guide the research, prioritizing academic integrity, transparency, and intellectual property respect. A core principle is academic honesty, which includes rigorous citation of all sources using Harvard standards to prevent plagiarism and acknowledge original authors' intellectual contributions. The study also stresses data integrity, ensuring objective literature interpretation and accurate reporting of findings. A systematic thematic analysis ensures evidence-based conclusions.

Despite the absence of human participants, ethical principles like respect for persons, beneficence, and justice are applied to secondary data handling. The study exclusively uses publicly available and credible materials, thereby avoiding privacy risks. Ethical clearance will be secured before data analysis. Informed consent and confidentiality are not relevant due to the lack of direct participant involvement. Should future research involve primary data collection, strict adherence to these ethical protocols is committed.