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Abstract Over the years, the processing of research proposals for ethical approvals has been done manually through a review of printed proposals. The system faced many challenges which led to inefficiency of the review process, and thus longer turn-around time. To address these challenges, an electronic or web-based application for research proposal submission and processing was introduced. However, the advantages of going paperless and inherent drawbacks remain unsubstantiated. This study aimed to explore the strength and limitations of electronic Research Ethics Information Management Systems (REIMS) in a health training institution in Tanzania. An exploratory qualitative study was adopted where 16 faculty members of the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences were interviewed. The faculty were purposefully recruited to include only those who had been exposed both to the paper-based research ethics review system and electronic Research Ethics Information Management System. The faculty were stratified into two groups of researchers and members of the research ethics committee. Thematic analysis using inductive reasoning was used to analyze the gathered information. The strengths and limitations of REIMS were unveiled in this study as two important themes. The strengths included convenience in use of the system and improved records management. The imitations included demand for reliable ICT resources and limited reviewer-researcher interaction. The findings of this study underscore the strengths and limitations of transformation in handling research ethics review following an introduction of an electronic system and abandoning the paper-based system. Institutions aspiring to adapt the system can learn from this experience and devise ways to overcome the limitations. We recommend system automation, strengthening the institutional capacity and further studies to be conducted on the use of the REIMS.
Mkumbwa et al. (Tue,) studied this question.