Perspectives on Data Sharing in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury

Open data sharing of clinical research aims to improve transparency and support novel scientific discoveries. There are also risks, including participant identification and the potential for stigmatization. The perspectives of persons participating in research are needed to inform open data-sharing policies. The aim of the current study was to determine perspectives on data sharing in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI), including risks and benefits, and types of data people are most willing to share. A secondary aim was to examine predictors of willingness to share data. Persons with SCIs in the United States and Canada completed a survey developed and disseminated through various channels, including our community partner, the North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium. The study collected data from 232 participants, with 52.2% from Canada and 42.2% from the United States, and the majority completed the survey in English. Most participants had previously participated in research and had been living with an SCI for ≥5 years. Overall, most participants reported that the potential benefits of data sharing outweighed the negatives, with persons with SCI seen as the most trustworthy partners for data sharing. The highest levels of concern were that information could be stolen and companies might use the information for marketing purposes. Persons with SCI were generally supportive of data sharing for research purposes. Clinical trials should consider including a statement on open data sharing in informed consents to better acknowledge the contribution of research participants in future studies.