Maintaining confidentiality in prospective studies: anonymous repeated measurements via email (ARME) procedure

J Med Ethics. 2012 Feb;38(2):127-9. doi: 10.1136/jme.2011.044552. Epub 2011 Jul 7.

Abstract

Respecting and protecting the confidentiality of data and the privacy of individuals regarding the information that they have given as participants in a research project is a cornerstone of complying with accepted research standards. However, in longitudinal studies, establishing and maintaining privacy is often challenging because of the necessity of repeated contact with participants. A novel internet-based solution is introduced here, which maintains privacy while at the same time ensures linkage of data to individual participants in a repeated measures design. With the use of the anonymous repeated measurements via email (ARME) procedure, two separate one-way communication systems are established through ad hoc email accounts and a secure study website. Strengths and limitations of the approach are discussed.

MeSH terms

  • Communication
  • Confidentiality / ethics*
  • Confidentiality / standards*
  • Electronic Mail
  • Humans
  • Internet / statistics & numerical data
  • Privacy
  • Prospective Studies
  • Research / standards*