Abstract
BackgroundHealth research often uses health information, a subcategory of personal information, collected during clinical encounters. Conditions under which such health information can be used for the secondary purpose of research are set out in state, national and international law. In Australia, consent is required or the relevant conditions for a waiver of consent must be met and approved by a human research ethics committee (HREC). Consent for use of health information for research is rarely sought at an emergency department (ED) presentation. Research often occurs after the index visit and gaining consent can be difficult. Waiver of consent provisions are frequently used, but acceptability of this approach to patients is unclear.ObjectiveTo identify ED patients’ knowledge and attitudes towards the use of health information for research, consent preferences and acceptability of waiver of consent.MethodsAn online, anonymous survey of adult patients attending two large EDs in Melbourne, Australia.Results103 patients completed the survey. We found that 52% were unaware that health information might be used for research. A majority (77%) felt that HREC approval for use of health information without consent was acceptable. However, 36% would prefer to be contacted regarding consent.ConclusionThese findings suggest a lack of awareness that health information can be used for research and that waiver of consent is acceptable, but not necessarily preferred, in most of the ED patient population. Efforts to increase awareness and provide opportunities to express preferences about health information use for research are needed.
Subject
Health Policy,Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous),Issues, ethics and legal aspects,Health (social science)
Reference12 articles.
1. World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki
2. Medical Board of Australia . Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia, 2014. Available: http://www.medicalboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Policies/Code-of-conduct.aspx [Accessed 1 Oct 2021].
3. National Health and Medical Research Council . The National statement on ethical conduct in human research, 2007. Available: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/e72.pdf [Accessed 1 Oct 2021].
4. Health Records Act (Vic).
5. Privacy Act 1998 (Cth).