What is the primary purpose of a Certificate of Confidentiality?

The primary purpose of a Certificate of Confidentiality is to protect identifiable research information from compelled disclosure. This certificate provides researchers with a legal safeguard against the involuntary release of sensitive data, ensuring that personally identifiable information collected during research is kept confidential and cannot be disclosed in legal proceedings, even if researchers are compelled to do so by court order or other legal mechanisms. The ability to maintain the confidentiality of participants' data is crucial for encouraging honest and open participation, and it helps to uphold ethical standards in research.

The other options do not accurately reflect the main aim of a Certificate of Confidentiality. Increasing participant enrollment, facilitating data sharing among researchers, or ensuring faster Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, while potentially important in the research process, are not the fundamental reason for obtaining this certificate. The focus of the Certificate of Confidentiality is specifically on maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of participant data in research studies.