Abstract
Conducting research in a humanitarian setting requires quantifiable quality measures to ensure ethical study conduct. Digital health technologies are proven to improve research study quality and efficacy via automated data collection, improvement of data reliability, fidelity and resilience and by improved data provenance and traceability. Additionally, digital health methodologies can improve patient identity, patient privacy, study transparency, data sharing, competent informed consent, and the confidentiality and security of humanitarian operations. It can seem counterintuitive to press forward aggressively with digital technologies at a time of heightened population vulnerability and cyber security concerns, but new approaches are essential to meet the rapidly increasing demands of humanitarian research. In this paper we present the case for the digital modernization of humanitarian research in conflict and other humanitarian settings as a vehicle for improved research quality and ethics.
Highlights
While there is justifiable concern, dialogue and debate on the necessity of research in conflict and humanitarian settings, research is being conducted and likely will continue to be conducted in these settings
The arguments against the use of digital health tools for the purpose of expanding the reach and minimizing the resource burden of research is that the technology will be too foreign, too complex and too difficult for successful utilization within some settings
The most important aspects to consider in humanitarian settings are the specificity of the environment, prioritization of data and systems, access and identity management, proper device patching and management, comprehensive daily data backups, good physical security and regular testing of all procedures and technology controls [54]
Summary
While there is justifiable concern, dialogue and debate on the necessity of research in conflict and humanitarian settings, research is being conducted and likely will continue to be conducted in these settings. This writing proposes that modern digital technologies can improve the ethics and benefits while reducing the risks of research conduct in humanitarian settings. Better data is: generated by valid experimental designs; timely; statistically rigorous; properly protected; useful for local authorities; obtained only through proper (truly) informed consent; and capable of providing an evidence base to support the resulting conclusions and recommendations of a given study.
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