Public attitudes towards personal health data sharing in long-term epidemiological research: A Citizen Science approach in the KORA study.
BMC Public Health 24:2317 (2024)
BACKGROUND: Loss to follow-up in long-term epidemiological studies is well-known and often substantial. Consequently, there is a risk of bias to the results. The motivation to take part in an epidemiological study can change over time, but the ways to minimize loss to follow-up are not well studied. The Citizen Science approach offers researchers to engage in direct discussions with study participants and to integrate their opinions and requirements into cohort management. METHODS: Guided group discussions were conducted with study participants from the KORA cohort in the Augsburg Region in Germany, established 40 years ago, as well as a group of independently selected citizens. The aim was to look at the relevant aspects of health studies with a focus on long-term participation. A two-sided questionnaire was developed subsequently in a co-creation process and presented to 500 KORA participants and 2,400 employees of the research facility Helmholtz Munich. RESULTS: The discussions revealed that altruistic motivations, (i.e. supporting research and public health), personal benefits (i.e. a health check-up during a study examination), data protection, and information about research results in layman's terms were crucial to ensure interest and long-term study participation. The results of the questionnaire confirmed these aspects and showed that exclusively digital information channels may be an obstacle for older and less educated people. Thus, paper-based media such as newsletters are still important. CONCLUSIONS: The findings shed light on cohort management and long-term engagement with study participants. A long-term health study needs to benefit public and individual health; the institution needs to be trustworthy; and the results and their impact need to be disseminated in widely understandable terms and by the right means of communication back to the participants.
Impact Factor
Scopus SNIP
Web of Science
Times Cited
Scopus
Cited By
Altmetric
Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
Thesis type
Editors
Keywords
Citizen Science ; Co-creation ; Epidemiological Cohort Management ; Health Data Sharing ; Participatory Research ; Public Engagement; People Participate; Bias
Keywords plus
Language
english
Publication Year
2024
Prepublished in Year
0
HGF-reported in Year
2024
ISSN (print) / ISBN
1471-2458
e-ISSN
1471-2458
ISBN
Book Volume Title
Conference Title
Conference Date
Conference Location
Proceedings Title
Quellenangaben
Volume: 24,
Issue: 1,
Pages: ,
Article Number: 2317
Supplement: ,
Series
Publisher
BioMed Central
Publishing Place
Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9xw, England
Day of Oral Examination
0000-00-00
Advisor
Referee
Examiner
Topic
University
University place
Faculty
Publication date
0000-00-00
Application date
0000-00-00
Patent owner
Further owners
Application country
Patent priority
Reviewing status
Peer reviewed
Institute(s)
Institute of Epidemiology (EPI)
POF-Topic(s)
30202 - Environmental Health
Research field(s)
Genetics and Epidemiology
PSP Element(s)
G-504000-006
G-504091-004
G-504000-010
G-504090-001
Grants
Helmholtz Zentrum Mnchen - Deutsches Forschungszentrum fr Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH) (4209)
Copyright
Erfassungsdatum
2024-09-03