A Scenario-Based Methodology for Analyzing the Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Genomic Data Sharing

Australian Attitudes Towards Waivers of Consent Within the Context of Genomic Data Sharing

This research identifies the circumstances in which Human Research Ethics Committees (HRECs) are trusted by Australians to approve the use of genomic data - without express consent - and considers the impact of genomic data sharing settings, and respondent attributes, on public trust. Survey results (N = 3013) show some circumstances are more conducive to public trust than others, with waivers endorsed when future research is beneficial and when privacy is protected, but receiving less support in other instances. Still, results imply attitudes are influenced by more than these specific circumstances, with different data sharing settings, and participant attributes, affecting views. Ultimately, this research raises questions and concerns in relation to the criteria HRECs use when authorising waivers of consent in Australia.

Context matters in genomic data sharing: a qualitative investigation into responses from the Australian public

BACKGROUND

Understanding public attitudes to genomic data sharing is widely seen as key in shaping effective governance. However, empirical research in this area often fails to capture the contextual nuances of diverse sharing practices and regulatory concerns encountered in real-world genomic data sharing. This study aimed to investigate factors affecting public attitudes to data sharing through responses to diverse genomic data sharing scenarios.

METHODS

A set of seven empirically validated genomic data sharing scenarios reflecting a range of current practices in Australia was used in an open-ended survey of a diverse sample of the Australian public (n = 243). Qualitative responses were obtained for each of the scenarios. Respondents were each allocated one scenario and asked five questions on: whether (and why/not) they would share data; what sharing would depend on; benefits and risks of sharing; risks they were willing to accept if sharing was certain to result in benefits; and what could increase their comfort about sharing and any potential risk. A thematic analysis was used to examine responses, coded and validated by two blinded coders.

RESULTS

Participants indicated an overall high willingness to share genomic information, although this willingness varied considerably between different scenarios. A strong perception of benefits was reported as the foremost explanation for willingness to share across all scenarios. The high degree of convergence in the perception of benefits and the types of benefits identified by participants across all the scenarios suggests that the differentiation in intention to share may lie in perceptions of risk, which showed distinct patterns within and between the different scenarios. Some concerns were shared strongly across all scenarios, particularly benefit sharing, future use, and privacy.

CONCLUSIONS

Qualitative responses provide insight into popular assumptions regarding existing protections, conceptions of privacy, and which trade-offs are generally acceptable. Our results indicate that public attitudes and concerns are heterogeneous and influenced by the context in which sharing takes place. The convergence of key themes such as benefits and future uses point to core concerns that must be centred in regulatory responses to genomic data sharing.

Italian public’s views on sharing genetic information and medical information: findings from the ‘Your DNA, Your Say’ study

Background: The collection and sharing of genomic and health data underpins global efforts to develop genomic medicine services. ‘Your DNA, Your Say’ is a cross-sectional survey with the goal of gathering lay public attitudes toward the access and sharing of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) information and medical information. It suggests significant international variation in the willingness to share information, and in trust in the actors associated with the collection and use of this information. This paper explores these questions in the Italian context.

Methods: The Italian Your DNA, Your Say campaign led to the collection of 1229 valid questionnaires. The sample was analysed using standard descriptive statistics. We described the sample in terms of gender, age ranges and self-reported religiosity, and split the sample amongst the five typically studied Italian macro-areas to explore regional variation. We analysed the relationship between these factors and trust and willingness to share medical and DNA information. 

Results: The majority of the sample, across all socio-demographics, were willing to share DNA and health information with all entities considered except for-profit researchers. Respondents tended not to trust institutions beyond their own doctor. There was no difference between Italian regions.

Conclusions: Despite the generally positive attitude towards sharing, we suggest that the lack of trust in non-profit researchers and the government needs to be better understood to inform public communication projects around genomics in the future and to enhance awareness of DNA and medical information in Italy.