Navigating the ethics of remote research data collection

Clin Trials. 2021 Oct;18(5):606-614. doi: 10.1177/17407745211027245. Epub 2021 Jul 7.

Abstract

COVID-19 has accelerated broad trends already in place toward remote research data collection and monitoring. This move implicates novel ethical and regulatory challenges which have not yet received due attention. Existing work is preliminary and does not seek to identify or grapple with the issues in a rigorous and sophisticated way. Here, we provide a framework for identifying and addressing challenges that we believe can help the research community realize the benefits of remote technologies while preserving ethical ideals and public trust. We organize issues into several distinct categories and provide points to consider in a table that can help facilitate ethical design and review of research studies using remote health instruments.

Keywords: Mobile health; remote monitoring; research ethics.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19
  • Data Collection / ethics*
  • Humans
  • Research Design