To, Teresa
Borkhoff, Cornelia M.
Chow, Chung-Wai
Moraes, Theo J.
Schwartz, Robert
Vozoris, Nick
Lal, Avtar
Yen, Wendy
Zhang, Kimball
Terebessy, Emilie
Zhu, Jingqin
Funding for this research was provided by:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Article History
Received: 4 December 2023
Revised: 23 February 2024
Accepted: 28 February 2024
First Online: 27 March 2024
Declarations
:
: The opinions, results, and conclusions reported in this paper are those of the authors and are independent from the funding sources. Parts of this material are based on data and information compiled and provided by Statistics Canada. However, the analyses, conclusions, opinions, and statements expressed herein are those of the author, and not necessarily those of Statistics Canada. The supporters and funders had no role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; and in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.
: The REB is guided by the ethical principles set out in the standard for research ethics boards in Canada—the Tri-Council Policy Statement (TCP: ExternalRef removed). The main guiding ethical principles of the TCPS are (1) respect for human dignity, (2) respect for free and informed consent, (3) respect for vulnerable persons, (4) respect for privacy and confidentiality, (5) respect for justice and inclusiveness, (6) balancing harms and benefits, (7) minimizing harm, (8) maximizing benefit. In addition, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research has developed 10 privacy best practices that are intended to help research ethics boards in the interpretation of the TCPS. These principles are similar to the 10 privacy principles described under the Governing Policy/Legislation of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Ethics approval was also obtained from the Hospital for Sick Children Research Ethics Board (Toronto, Ontario, Canada).
: Informed consent was obtained from all subjects involved in the study by Statistics Canada personnel. The CHMS follows the Policy (ExternalRef removed) on Informing Survey Respondents by telling respondents, before and at the time of collection, that their participation is voluntary. Information about the voluntary nature of the CHMS is included in all materials presented to or available to potential respondents before they agree to participate. Even after agreeing, they can decline to answer specific questions that they consider sensitive or that make them uncomfortable. They can also withdraw from any part of the survey at any time, including having their biospecimen samples withdrawn.
: The authors declare no competing interests.