To be considered for approval, a request must:

• ​​be for the time-limited purpose of addressing a specific set of research questions;
  
• not involve use of data for administrative or any other non-research purpose, or for ongoing programs of research, unless specifically approved;
• be in the public interest, i.e., improves the welfare of the population;
• not be for proprietary research, such as research done for commercial marketing purposes;
• have scientific merit;
• be accessed only in Canada;
• meet PHSA's new streamlined legal terms for data security and confidentiality; and
• have approval from a recognized research ethics board, as defined by the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans - TCPS2 (2018).
  

Please note that the above requirements are necessary for review but are not exhaustive for approval by the Research Review Committee. Additional requirements may arise that are project-specific. 

Please allow a minimum of six (6) months from the date of application to receipt of record-level data for research purposes. 

Filling out the online Data Access Request takes time, planning, and attention to detail. Timely access to data is affected by inadequately completed applications — please be very thorough in completing the application. If you have questions or are unclear on any aspects of the application process, please contact PSBC prior to submitting your online Data Access Request for consideration by the Research Review Committee.

Once your application had been approved, you will be asked to sign an "Agreement to Proceed with Data Preparation" document, which will include a quoted fee to complete the data cut.

Please note that all research outputs (including but not limited to journal articles, abstracts, slide decks for public presentations, and reports) must be submitted for review to PSBC prior to public disclosure. PSBC commits to review journal manuscripts within 45 calendar days and abstracts, slide decks, and poster presentations within 14 calendar days. Researchers are able to proceed with public disclosure if there is no response within the given time frame.

To make an amendment to a previous Application for Access to Health Data for Research, you must complete an Amendment to Data Access Request Form. Please contact PSBC (psbc.darc@phsa.ca) for your project specific link to the Amendment to Data Request Form. 

Amendments to studies should be changes within the scope of the original study. Changes such as requesting additional variables, addition/removal of project members, or a change to the requested data retention date must be submitted as Amendments. 

New studies that are related to (but not included in) the original studies should be submitted as a new DAR. 

Also, projects that undergo changes to data collection methods or study populations should be submitted in a new DAR for review and approval. 

1. Review Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Access to Health Data for Research.
2. Complete the online PHSA Data Access Request (DAR) and BCPDR Data Field Checklist embedded in the online form itself.
   Note: As of December 1st, 2020 older versions of the PSBC DAR will not be accepted. Please ensure to use the new online version of the PHSA Data Access Request (DAR) Form linked above.
3. Applicant will be contacted after application has been reviewed by PSBC staff. 
4. Requests will be reviewed by the PSBC Research Review Committee, which meets on a monthly basis. The committee may have additional questions, in which case the applicant may be contacted for further clarification of the request. 
5. Once approved, the applicant must sign an Agreement to Proceed with Data Preparation, which includes agreement to pay any associated fees. An estimated turnaround time will also be provided.
6. The applicant will be notfied when the request is complete, and data are ready to be released.
7. After approval, any changes to the research question(s), researcher(s), or time frames, as well as new requests for additional data elements or years must complete the online Amendment to Data Access Request Form for review and approval by PSBC. Please contact PSBC (psbc.darc@phsa.ca) for your project specific link to the Amendment to Data Request Form.
   
8. When the data retention period has expired, the applicant must confirm destruction of all data using the online Project Closure & Data Destruction Form. Please contact PSBC (psbc.darc@phsa.ca​) for your project specific link to the Project Closure & Data Destruction Form.