Open AccessResearch Recruitment Through US Central Cancer Registries: Balancing Privacy and Scientific Issues
Author(s) -
Laura M. Beskow,
Robert S. Sandler,
Morris Weinberger
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2004.061556
Subject(s) - cancer registry , medicine , public health , population , accrual , family medicine , permission , affect (linguistics) , environmental health , psychology , nursing , business , political science , law , earnings , accounting , communication
Cancer registries are a valuable resource for recruiting participants for public health-oriented research, although such recruitment raises potentially competing concerns about patient privacy and participant accrual. We surveyed US central cancer registries about their policies for research contact with patients, and results showed substantial variation. The strategy used most frequently (37.5% of those that allowed patient contact), which was among the least restrictive, was for investigators to notify patients' physicians and then contact patients with an opt-out approach. The most restrictive strategy was for registry staff to obtain physician permission and contact patients with an opt-in approach. Population-based studies enhance cancer control efforts, and registry policies can affect researchers' ability to conduct such studies. Further discussion about balanced recruitment approaches that protect patient privacy and encourage beneficial research is needed.