Ethical reflexivity: A critical examination of ethics in public health intervention research

Intervention research, which encompasses the development, implementation, and evaluation of complex interventions, represents a significant area of study within public health. Nevertheless, ethical considerations are limited in prominent guidelines. This article aims to highlight and discuss the importance of ethical reflexivity in the context of public health interventions. The article examines and addresses ethical issues, challenges, and dilemmas associated explicitly with public health intervention research, including informed consent, categorization, stigmatization, and reporting null findings and unintended consequences. We contend that formal and professional guidelines in intervention research require increased flexibility and nuance, including a specific emphasis on ethics where ethical considerations are actively examined and reflected upon.