Perceptions and Attitudes toward Data Sharing among Dental Researchers.

Area of Science:

• Dental research
• Data science
• Research methodology

Background:

• Growing importance of data management and sharing in research advancement.
• Need to understand established dental researchers' perspectives on these practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore opinions and past experiences of dental researchers regarding data sharing and management.
• To identify concerns and facilitators for effective data sharing in dentistry.

Main Methods:

• Survey distributed to International Association for Dental Research scientific groups.
• Survey included Likert-type, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions.
• 42 established dental researchers participated.

Main Results:

• All respondents favored promoting and facilitating data sharing.
• Concerns were raised regarding data misuse and participant protection.
• Varied opinions on data sharing mandates and investigator data retention rights.
• Diverse data management and storage methods observed, with experts used more by younger researchers and those with higher research costs.

Conclusions:

• Dental researchers express support for data sharing, tempered by valid concerns.
• Managed data clearinghouses are proposed to promote, manage, and oversee data sharing.
• Findings can guide improvements in research data management and sharing for efficient advancement and practice implementation.