Using the concept of “deserved trust” to strengthen the value and integrity of biomedical research

Abstract

It is commonplace for science leaders and others to claim that the future of biomedical research rests in large part upon the public's trust. If true, it behooves the biomedical research community to understand how it avoids taking chances with that trust. This commentary, which builds upon comments of noted trust scholar Russell Hardin about how best to enjoy trust, assumes that the key to being trusted is deserving to be trusted. Thus, it proposes using "deserved trust" to identify ways that the public's trust in biomedical research could be better supported. Employing deserved trust to support the public's trust leads us to consider what it is that the biomedical research community should be trusted to do, examine evidence about the effectiveness of current safeguards meant to assure that those things routinely get done, and identify new ways to equip individual researchers, research teams, and research institutions to assure that the public's trust in their research is deserved rather than misplaced.

Informed Consent: Research Staff's Perspectives and Practical Recommendations to Improve Research Staff-Participant Communication

“…This means however, that research staff should acknowledge the vulnerable position of the participant and take this into account when designing and conducting clinical studies. Emphasis should be placed on educating research staff about building relationships based on trust with participants and research integrity (Baik et al, 2016; Kerasidou, 2016; Yarborough, 2021). It might also be useful to build trust relationships between the lay public and researchers, for example by engaging patients in the design of clinical studies and information materials, as well as by enhancing the general knowledge about research, and increasing transparency about research results (Emanuel et al, 2004; UNAIDS, 2011).…”

“…The role of trust in research staff was hinted at during the interviews, however not further elaborated. Further research is needed to investigate the role of trust in decision making and the nature of the research staff – participant relationship (Choi et al, 2016; Kerasidou, 2016; Mainous et al, 2006; Yarborough, 2021).…”

Who is responsible for ‘responsible AI’?: Navigating challenges to build trust in AI agriculture and food system technology

“…This question was derived from prior work, designed to investigate trustworthiness and the concept of "deserved trust" in the biomedical research arena, that involved leaders from a range of public and private sectors that all require the public's trust. This research explored what industry leaders do to support that trust and restore it when there is a breach in it (Hudson, 2003;Yarborough et al, 2009;Yarborough, 2021). These findings emphasized the importance of including all individuals engaged in the development and deployment of a technology in taking shared ownership for public safety in its use.…”