When a focus group deals with a potentially sensitive topic, the correct statement about providing confidentiality to participants is: The researcher cannot control what participants repeat about others outside the group. This means that although researchers can and should encourage confidentiality and may take steps such as using pseudonyms and confidentiality agreements, they cannot guarantee that participants will keep shared information private once the group session ends. Participants might disclose information outside the group despite confidentiality agreements. Therefore, researchers must inform participants upfront about these limitations and encourage them to respect confidentiality to the best of their ability. Other points clarified include:

• Knowing each other does not eliminate confidentiality concerns.
• Using pseudonyms helps but does not fully ensure confidentiality.
• Confidentiality agreements do not guarantee confidentiality.

This reflects the inherent limitation in controlling participant behavior outside the group setting and the ethical responsibility to inform participants about the nature of confidentiality in focus groups discussing sensitive topics.