context. It may be that WBE authors propose such systems. On the other hand, editors or peer reviewers may be the first to detect genuine ethical risks. In this way the publication process can provide an important service to WBE scholars. Where journal editors are unfamiliar with WBE research, scholars in this field may help to raise awareness of the ethical issues by giving editors copies of these guidelines. Without limiting other potential strategies, it is feasible that data could be provided to peer reviewers that is not included in a publication. For example, in WBE publications it is typical to report the estimated population size of the catchment studied. Yet, in some circumstances such information could be used to identify a vulnerable region or group that the researchers would prefer remained unidentified. In these scenarios all data could be scrutinized through the peer review process. However, in the resulting publication the risk of identifying the site could be minimised by only reporting population rates (e.g. per 100,000 people). After publication, any WBE scholars who wished to see the complete population estimates could contact the authors. This would dramatically reduce any risk that the scientific report was misinterpreted or misused by media sources. 5.0 Useful sources and other materials World Medical Association, Declaration of Helsinki - Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) - Updated May 2015
context. It may be that WBE authors propose such systems. On the other hand, editors or peer reviewers may be the first to detect genuine ethical risks. In this way the publication process can provide an important service to WBE scholars. Where journal editors are unfamiliar with WBE research, scholars in this field may help to raise awareness of the ethical issues by giving editors copies of these guidelines. Without limiting other potential strategies, it is feasible that data could be provided to peer reviewers that is not included in a publication. For example, in WBE publications it is typical to report the estimated population size of the catchment studied. Yet, in some circumstances such information could be used to identify a vulnerable region or group that the researchers would prefer remained unidentified. In these scenarios all data could be scrutinized through the peer review process. However, in the resulting publication the risk of identifying the site could be minimised by only reporting population rates (e.g. per 100,000 people). After publication, any WBE scholars who wished to see the complete population estimates could contact the authors. This would dramatically reduce any risk that the scientific report was misinterpreted or misused by media sources. 5.0 Useful sources and other materials World Medical Association, Declaration of Helsinki - Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council, National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) - Updated May 2015
WBE-ethical-guidelines-FINAL-March-2016-1.docx