Privacy, Confidentiality, and Data Security
Although a plan to ensure privacy, confidentially, and
data security will be outlined in the IRB application, in
many LMIC health care settings, the high volume of
patients and lack of space can make it extremely
difficult, or impossible, to uphold privacy and/or
confidentiality to typical Western standards. Strategies
for data security include protecting laptops with highlevel
encryption and passwords, using a quality laptop
lock, hiring a locksmith to install locks on a bedroom
cabinet to secure research materials, backing up all
data on an external hard drive or remote secure server/
cloud, and being extra vigilant when traveling with
research data, especially in airports where one may be
separated from personal belongings during security
screening.