PRIVACY STATEMENT
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 11th, 2024
STUDY CONTACT - DR. CARA MACINNIS - PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
INTRODUCTION
chuisle mo chroí is a mobile application ("App") available to research participants ("Users") participating in the Pulse of My Heart: Exploring a Writing Exercise for Parents with Early-Onset Cancer research project ("Research Project") at Acadia University ("Acadia").
Similar to many software applications, the App is being stored ("Hosted") on third party sites so that Users can make copies and download it onto their devices (iOS or Android). The App will be Hosted on the Apple Store (Apple Inc.) and Google Play Internal Testing (Android distribution) servers. Once Users have downloaded the App on their device(s), all data created by Users while using the App (including Gmail account information) will be stored on Google's Firebase servers (located in Montreal, Quebec) and covered by their data processing and security terms (see https://firebase.google.com/terms/data-processing-terms). Your data will be accessible to Acadia's software development partner, Mindsea Development Inc., ("Mindsea") who will send the data to Acadia via a secure file transfer protocol once you have completed using the App (please see below).
Please note that Acadia is not responsible for the privacy practices of Firebase or other third-party Hosting websites.
If you use the App, then we assume that you're providing Acadia consent to store your data on Firebase and that you consent to this Privacy Statement. You will also have to accept the App Terms and Conditions before you can start using it.
PRIVACY STATEMENT
Acadia is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy in connection with your use of the App. Applicable privacy laws, including Nova Scotia's Personal Information Protection Act and the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, set out rules for the collection, use, disclosure, security, retention and destruction of personal information.
This Privacy Statement explains how we will collect and handle data and other information we collect from you or that you provide to us in connection with your use of the App. We will only use your data to conduct research and improve the App (see below).
DATA COLLECTION & DISCLOSURE
After you have completed the informed consent process, you will obtain information on how to download and install the App, signing in with Google. We make a significant effort to protect your identity. Easily identifiable information such as your name will not be collected by the App. The App will collect your email and information that you choose to input into the App through a series of questions, so it is possible that someone might identify you based on this data. However, only approved members of the research team will analyze question responses and responses will not be shared beyond the research team. Mindsea will not examine individual question responses, but will simply store and transfer the data. The App will also collect information about your use of the App as well as device information such as operating system version, device type, and system performance information. This information will be stored on Firebase and may be accessed by Mindsea.
Once you have completed the questions within the App, the User Content will be sent by Mindsea to the Principal Investigator via a secure file transfer protocol. It will then be stored at Acadia on a secure server and will be accessible to members of Acadia's Research Project team.
User Content may eventually be shared with other researchers for scientific purposes only; however, this data will not contain identifying information that would allow others to easily associate the User Content with you. If User Content is sent to members of the research team outside of Acadia, this will be done through a secure file transfer protocol and stored by team members on secure university (University of British Columbia or University of Calgary) servers. If a researcher needs access to any personally identifying data, they must first obtain ethics approval from their institution as well as meet stringent requirements.
If the consolidated results of this research (for example, generalized information about responses to App questions such as the average length of responses or overall themes of responses) are published or presented in any public forum, the results will not include personally identifiable information.
Please note that in some cases, domestic or foreign authorities may legally access data sent or stored electronically. If you complete your responses to the App on a public computer, others may have access to your responses. For example, if you complete the responses at work, your employer may have access to your responses. Your employer may have a legal right to access any information sent using employer-owned equipment. You may therefore wish to complete your responses within the App using your personal equipment if available.
INFORMATION USE
Acadia uses the collected information for the following limited purposes:
- To maintain the App and detect, prevent and address technical issues.
- To provide User support.
- To improve the App.
- To monitor the usage of the App.
- To conduct research for the purposes of pilot testing whether there are positive psychosocial effects of a writing exercise for parents with early onset cancer
DATA CONFIDENTIALITY & SECURITY
Your information will not be transferred outside of Canada. As indicated, the data will be stored on Firebase's secure servers located in Montreal, Quebec, and at Acadia once you have completed using the App.
The security of your information is important to us. We follow generally accepted standards to protect the personal information you submit to us and to the App. Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the Internet is not completely secure. Although we will do our best to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of your data being transmitted by the App or subsequently to Acadia by Mindsea. Nor can we guarantee the security of your data being stored on Firebase. As noted above, we will make significant effort to protect your data and your identity, but this cannot be guaranteed.
It should be noted that ensuring the security and confidentiality of your information is a responsibility that we share with you. Your use of the App should take place in an appropriately private space to ensure the privacy of your data.
PROTECTING YOUR INFORMATION
The Gmail address and sign-in credentials that you use to access the App should be kept protected. You are also responsible for ensuring your personal information is protected by not allowing others to use your device without your permission.
EXERCISE OF PRIVACY RIGHTS & REMOVAL OF DATA
Acadia is collecting and processing your data based on your consent to participate in the Research Project. We rely on you to provide us with accurate data, and to update that data as and when desired. If you wish to remove all or a portion of the data collected using the App, you can delete the App, or we can facilitate removal of that data by you contacting the Principal Investigator. You may withdraw your consent to participate in the Research Project at any time by contacting the Principal Investigator.
RETENTION OF DATA
We will retain the data we collect from or about you only for so long as we require it to satisfy the requirements of the Research Project. Upon the completion of the Research Project, all data will be deleted.
Please note that you are responsible for submitting, saving, storing, and otherwise maintaining copies of User Content, including the final PDF document containing User Content, to prevent loss. If you decide to delete the App, all User Content will be deleted.
CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY STATEMENT
We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time. This Privacy Statement on our Research Project website (https://closerlab-dev.acadiau.ca/privacy-policy.html) will always be the most recent version. If you have any questions, please contact the Principal Investigator.
STUDY CONTACT - PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Dr. Cara C. MacInnis, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology
Acadia University
Wolfville, NS, B4P 2P8
Phone: 902-542-2201 ext. 1226