The University of Waterloo Research Ethics Boards (REBs) have adopted the following definition of a health-related intervention: "An activity or set of activities aimed at modifying a process, course of action or sequence of events in order to change one or several of their characteristics such as performance of expected outcome.” (International Classification of Health Interventions Training Manual, 2021, p.6).
Examples of health-related interventions involving study participants are listed below:
- Use of a drug, eye care solution, or medication (marketed or investigational) to assess a positive change in health outcome as a result of the drug, solution, or medication.
- Consuming a food or vitamin supplement to assess a change in nutritional status, insulin level, or other metabolic measures.
- Taking part in a new urine screening test that will be used to determine or rule out a certain disease such as diabetes.
- Testing of a new exercise program with people who have had a mild ischemic stroke to reduce the risk of a subsequent stroke by improving fitness levels.
- Psychotherapeutic approach to a behavioural disorder or other mental illness comparing the outcomes of two or more patient populations with the same diagnosis but receiving different therapies or a trial comparing the outcome of those who have received the therapy with those who are on the waiting list for treatment.