We use the word ‘confidential’ a great deal. However, within the disability peer support, information collection space, what does this really mean? We often think that keeping information confidential simply means we need to ensure we do not use a responder’s name in available information. When it fact, it implies so much more than that. Confidentiality means any identifying information is not made accessible to anyone but the person coordinating the collection (or potentially people in their team). Confidentiality also guarantees such identifying information is excluded from any reports or published documents.
In peer support, where some groups involve small numbers of members, just deleting a name may not secure confidentiality. It is very important to consider how collected information is worded to make sure there is no opportunity for people to be identified, even though names are not used. For example, if you have a single member who lives rurally, having ‘rural member response’ listed separately from metropolitan members will clearly make it easy to identify their comments/answers.
Anonymity is a stricter form of privacy than confidentiality. In this case, the identity of the person answering the questions remains unknown to everyone involved. This is possible to achieve if you use mailed surveys and reply paid addressed envelopes that provide no tracking information to the posting team. Anonymity is usually more difficult to achieve than confidentiality, and is usually not required within the peer program collections we undertake. It may also be difficult to manage in the disability space, given the number of members who may struggle with organisational tasks, such as posting a survey back, or where writing communication is limited. However, you can consider this if it is likely to improve feedback levels or level of security when people seek it.