Research Participants' Understanding of and Reactions to Certificates of Confidentiality.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Certificates of Confidentiality are intended to facilitate participation in critical public health research by protecting against forced disclosure of identifying data in legal proceedings, but little is known about the effect of Certificate descriptions in consent forms.

Methods

To gain preliminary insights, we conducted qualitative interviews with 50 HIV-positive individuals in Durham, North Carolina to explore their subjective understanding of Certificate descriptions and whether their reactions differed based on receiving a standard versus simplified description.

Results

Most interviewees were neither reassured nor alarmed by Certificate information, and most said it would not influence their willingness to participate or provide truthful information. H

SUBMITTER: Beskow LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3927918 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature