Challenges created by data dissemination and access restrictions when attempting to address community concerns: individual privacy versus public wellbeing
Background: Population health data are vital for the identification of public health problems and the development of public health strategies. Challenges arise when attempts are made to disseminate or access anonymised data that are deemed to be potentially identifiable. In these situations, there i...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2012
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18414 https://doaj.org/article/78776b0aba5b42babc98b15c5286ba2e |
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:78776b0aba5b42babc98b15c5286ba2e 2023-05-15T15:13:11+02:00 Challenges created by data dissemination and access restrictions when attempting to address community concerns: individual privacy versus public wellbeing Amy Colquhoun Laura Aplin Janis Geary Karen J. Goodman Juanita Hatcher 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18414 https://doaj.org/article/78776b0aba5b42babc98b15c5286ba2e EN eng Taylor & Francis Group http://www.circumpolarhealthjournal.net/index.php/ijch/article/view/18414/pdf_1 https://doaj.org/toc/2242-3982 doi:10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18414 2242-3982 https://doaj.org/article/78776b0aba5b42babc98b15c5286ba2e International Journal of Circumpolar Health, Vol 71, Iss 0, Pp 1-7 (2012) Aboriginal health Canada Helicobacter pylori cancer circumpolar regions confidentiality Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 article 2012 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18414 2022-12-31T12:32:13Z Background: Population health data are vital for the identification of public health problems and the development of public health strategies. Challenges arise when attempts are made to disseminate or access anonymised data that are deemed to be potentially identifiable. In these situations, there is debate about whether the protection of an individual's privacy outweighs potentially beneficial public health initiatives developed using potentially identifiable information. While these issues have an impact at planning and policy levels, they pose a particular dilemma when attempting to examine and address community concerns about a specific health problem. Methods: Research currently underway in northern Canadian communities on the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection and associated diseases, such as stomach cancer, is used in this article to illustrate the challenges that data controls create on the ability of researchers and health officials to address community concerns. Results: Barriers are faced by public health professionals and researchers when endeavouring to address community concerns; specifically, provincial cancer surveillance departments and community-driven participatory research groups face challenges related to data release or access that inhibit their ability to effectively address community enquiries. The resulting consequences include a limited ability to address misinformation or to alleviate concerns when dealing with health problems in small communities. Conclusions: The development of communication tools and building of trusting relationships are essential components of a successful investigation into community health concerns. It may also be important to consider that public wellbeing may outweigh the value of individual privacy in these situations. As such, a re-evaluation of data disclosure policies that are applicable in these circumstances should be considered. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Circumpolar Health International Journal of Circumpolar Health Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Arctic Canada International Journal of Circumpolar Health 71 1 18414 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Aboriginal health Canada Helicobacter pylori cancer circumpolar regions confidentiality Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 |
spellingShingle |
Aboriginal health Canada Helicobacter pylori cancer circumpolar regions confidentiality Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 Amy Colquhoun Laura Aplin Janis Geary Karen J. Goodman Juanita Hatcher Challenges created by data dissemination and access restrictions when attempting to address community concerns: individual privacy versus public wellbeing |
topic_facet |
Aboriginal health Canada Helicobacter pylori cancer circumpolar regions confidentiality Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine RC955-962 |
description |
Background: Population health data are vital for the identification of public health problems and the development of public health strategies. Challenges arise when attempts are made to disseminate or access anonymised data that are deemed to be potentially identifiable. In these situations, there is debate about whether the protection of an individual's privacy outweighs potentially beneficial public health initiatives developed using potentially identifiable information. While these issues have an impact at planning and policy levels, they pose a particular dilemma when attempting to examine and address community concerns about a specific health problem. Methods: Research currently underway in northern Canadian communities on the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection and associated diseases, such as stomach cancer, is used in this article to illustrate the challenges that data controls create on the ability of researchers and health officials to address community concerns. Results: Barriers are faced by public health professionals and researchers when endeavouring to address community concerns; specifically, provincial cancer surveillance departments and community-driven participatory research groups face challenges related to data release or access that inhibit their ability to effectively address community enquiries. The resulting consequences include a limited ability to address misinformation or to alleviate concerns when dealing with health problems in small communities. Conclusions: The development of communication tools and building of trusting relationships are essential components of a successful investigation into community health concerns. It may also be important to consider that public wellbeing may outweigh the value of individual privacy in these situations. As such, a re-evaluation of data disclosure policies that are applicable in these circumstances should be considered. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Amy Colquhoun Laura Aplin Janis Geary Karen J. Goodman Juanita Hatcher |
author_facet |
Amy Colquhoun Laura Aplin Janis Geary Karen J. Goodman Juanita Hatcher |
author_sort |
Amy Colquhoun |
title |
Challenges created by data dissemination and access restrictions when attempting to address community concerns: individual privacy versus public wellbeing |
title_short |
Challenges created by data dissemination and access restrictions when attempting to address community concerns: individual privacy versus public wellbeing |
title_full |
Challenges created by data dissemination and access restrictions when attempting to address community concerns: individual privacy versus public wellbeing |
title_fullStr |
Challenges created by data dissemination and access restrictions when attempting to address community concerns: individual privacy versus public wellbeing |
title_full_unstemmed |
Challenges created by data dissemination and access restrictions when attempting to address community concerns: individual privacy versus public wellbeing |
title_sort |
challenges created by data dissemination and access restrictions when attempting to address community concerns: individual privacy versus public wellbeing |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18414 https://doaj.org/article/78776b0aba5b42babc98b15c5286ba2e |
geographic |
Arctic Canada |
geographic_facet |
Arctic Canada |
genre |
Arctic Circumpolar Health International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
genre_facet |
Arctic Circumpolar Health International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
op_source |
International Journal of Circumpolar Health, Vol 71, Iss 0, Pp 1-7 (2012) |
op_relation |
http://www.circumpolarhealthjournal.net/index.php/ijch/article/view/18414/pdf_1 https://doaj.org/toc/2242-3982 doi:10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18414 2242-3982 https://doaj.org/article/78776b0aba5b42babc98b15c5286ba2e |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18414 |
container_title |
International Journal of Circumpolar Health |
container_volume |
71 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
18414 |
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1766343768818057216 |