Nymoen, Marit
Biringer, Eva
Hetlevik, Øystein
Thorsen, Olav
Assmus, Jörg
Hartveit, Miriam
Funding for this research was provided by:
Helse Fonna Local Health Authority
University of Bergen
Article History
Received: 7 October 2021
Accepted: 25 May 2022
First Online: 2 June 2022
Declarations
:
: The study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki declaration. The study has been presented to and approved by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (reference no. 2019–1147) and the Norwegian Centre for Research Data (reference no. 53392).The research group and the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics evaluated the advantages of including unidentifiable patient data without the patients’ consent against the disadvantages. The risk of selection bias due to the many health professionals that had to be involved in informing and asking all patients for consent, the disadvantages for patients’ and the public’s trust in the health care system, and the public interest in improving access to health care were assessed. A dispensation was given by the Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics (reference no. 2019–1147). Approval for conducting the study without patient consent was given under the strict condition that personal identification of patients was not possible for researchers.
: Not applicable.
: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.