Ethics and Best Practices in Sharing Individual-level Research Data

Research funders, regulators and researchers are increasingly calling for the sharing of individual-level data from biomedical and public health research. Despite its potential importance and the ethical arguments in favour of it, data sharing presents important ethical, social, and institutional challenges. This peer reviewed course outlines ethical aspects of sharing individual level research data and proposed best practices. It aims to be of value to those designing and reviewing individual research protocols where data sharing is anticipated, and to those developing institutional policies and processes for governing data sharing.

Upon completion of this course, you will have an understanding of what data management is and the purpose of a data management plan; factors to be considered in the design and type of a case report form;  what should be taken into account when completing and data entering a case report form and closing the data set; considerations for data analysis and what is important when deciding on a data management system.