Appendix G
Youth Interview Recruitment Posting, Invitation Email and Consent Form
McMasterUniversity,School of Nursing
1200 Main St. W.
Hamilton, ON
L8N 3Z5
Phone: (905) 525-9140
X 22261
Fax: (905) 570-0667 / Corporation of the County of Huron
HealthUnit
Health & Library Complex
77722B London Road South,
RR # 5 Clinton, Ontario
N0M 1L0
Phone: (519) 482-3416 or (877) 837-6143
Fax: (519) 482-7820
A Message from McMasterUniversity and HuronCounty Health Unit Researchers: (To be posted on the web site and in messages in the discussion forums where appropriate.)
We want to talk to you about SPARK!
$20 will be paid to you if you participate in a 25 – 30 minute phone interview!
You are invited to participate in an 25-30 minute telephone interview to provide us with feedback about the SPARK web site. We are interested to learn about your experiences with the site.
We will contact you by email to arrange a time that works for you. We will also send a consent form to you in the mail that will need to be signed and returned to us in a self-addressed stamped envelop. If you are under the age of 18, we will require parental consent for you to participate in the interview.
When we begin the interview, we will ask if it is OK to tape record it, so that we can be sure not to miss anything you tell us. You can refuse to have it recorded and have the right to review the tapes. You can also choose to withdraw at anytime or choose not to answer any questions that you do not wish. There will be no negative consequences to you if you withdraw.
Your responses will be completely anonymous. Any identifying information will be stripped from any transcripts of your interview. We may choose to use quotes from your interview in reporting results. However, no identifiable information will be reported.
Your input is very important to us and will help us evaluate the site. The results will help guide us to ways to improve the site to meet Huron County Youth’s needs. More information about the researchers and the evaluation study can be found here. [A link to the Letter of consent, Appendix A, will be provided here.] If you are selected to participate and complete the interview, you will receive $20 for your time.
Please email me to express your interest in participating at
Email Invitation and Consent for Interview
Thank you for expressing an interest in participating in a telephone interview to talk about your experiences with the SPARK web site. Attached is description of the research study, the risks and benefits in participating in the study as well as information about the researchers.
In order to participate, you are required to sign the bottom of this consent and mail or fax it to us before the interview can be conducted. If you are under 18 years of age, we also require that your parent signs the consent.
The interview questions are attached so that you can see what will be covered in the interview. If you agree to participate, please identify a time that would be most convenient for us to contact you for a 25 to 30 minute interview. You will be compensated with $20, which will be mailed to you shortly after the interview.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Ruta Valaitis, RN. PhD
Principal Investigator
SPARK Evaluation Study
McMasterUniversity
McMasterUniversity,School of Nursing
1200 Main St. W.
Hamilton, ON
L8N 3Z5
Phone: (905) 525-9140
X 22261
Fax: (905) 570-0667 / Corporation of the County of Huron Health Unit
Health & Library Complex
77722B London Road South,
RR # 5 Clinton, Ontario
N0M 1L0
Phone: (519) 482-3416 or (877) 837-6143
Fax: (519) 482-7820
Web Site User Research Information Sheet
for Interviews
Title of Study: Evaluation of the SPARK Health Promotion Web Site
Consent Form Date: June 25, 2006Page 1 of 3 Protocol # and version: 1
Locally Responsible Investigator and Principal Investigator, Department/Hospital/Institution:
Dr. Ruta Valaitis RN, PhD School of Nursing, McMasterUniversity
Co-Investigator(s), Department/Hospital/Institution:
Dr. Linda O’Mara, RN, PhD School of Nursing, McMasterUniversity
Sherri Bezaire, Health Promoter, HuronCounty Health Unit
Sponsor: Health Canada
You are invited to participate in a study being conducted by Dr. Ruta Valaitis, Dr. Linda O’Mara and Sherri Bezaire because you have chosen to use the SPARK Web Site. Researchers at McMasterUniversity and professional staff at Huron County Health Unit have financial support from Health Canada for this study. There is no conflict of interest that exists in relation to any of the researchers in this study. A conflict of interest exists if there is potential benefit to the investigator(s) beyond the professional benefit from academic achievement or presentation of the results.
WHY IS THIS RESEARCH BEING DONE?
The SPARK web site was created by youth and health professionals at the Huron County Health unit. We believe that youth who live in HuronCounty have unique needs. It is important for HuronCounty health unit staff, who provide services to youth in this County, to understand youth’s needs so that they can plan more effective programs. In addition, we are interested in evaluating this health promotion web site so that we can make improvements where needed. Although this health promotion web site will address many topics and the content will change on an ongoing basis, we will focus some of the content on use of alcohol by youth.
Consent Form Date: June 25, 2006Page 1 of 3 Protocol # and version: 1
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS STUDY?
This study aims to evaluate the SPARK web site and to learn more about issues facing Huron County Youth, including the topic of alcohol use among youth. The results will help identify what works well and what doesn’t so that improvements can be made to better meet the needs of HuronCounty youth. We can also use the information to plan other programs to meet HuronCounty youth’s needs. In addition to being interested in health and social needs that youth may have, we are particularly interested in learning about HuronCounty youths’ views and use of alcohol. Therefore, some elements of the web site will be geared to this topic.
WHAT WILL MY RESPONSIBILITIES BE IF I TAKE PART IN THE STUDY?
You are invited to:
- participate in a20- 30 minute telephone interview to provide us with feedback on the site and to discuss your experiences with it. You can email the principal investigator () if you wish to participate. We will ask you if we can audiotape the interview so that we can accurately capture your comments. You have the right to review any audiotapes. The tape will be transcribed for analysis. Your name will be removed from any transcripts. We may use quotes from your interview to report results. However, the quotes will be kept anonymous. We will arrange a time that is mutually convenient for the interview. You will be provided with a $20 gift certificate for your participation in the interview.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS?
We do not anticipate any risks or discomforts in the interview. However, interview questions focus on your evaluation of the SPARK web site. If you had a negative experience with the web site, you may find it difficult to talk about.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE IN THIS STUDY?
We will recruit about 10-15 people to participate in the interviews. All users of the SPARK web site will be invited to participate in this aspect of the evaluation.
WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS FOR ME AND/OR FOR SOCIETY?
We cannot promise any personal benefits to you from your participation in this study. However, possible benefits include an increased sense of support, increased sense of your community, increased awareness about health matters and social and health resources available in the HuronCounty region. Your participation may help others who want to build a health promotion web site to meet local needs in the future.
IF I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE STUDY, ARE THERE OTHER CHOICES?
It is important for you to know that you can choose not to take part in any aspects of this study. An alternative to visiting the SPARK web site is to contact the Huron County Health Unit (519-482-3416) for health information and advice or contact the Health unit in your region. Choosing not to participate in this study will in no way affect services offered to you by staff at the Huron County Health Unit.
WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE KEPT PRIVATE?
Your interview data will not be shared with anyone. Your name will only be kept if you email us offering to participate in an interview. A list linking your contact information with your name and phone number will be kept in a secure place, separate from your interview data. The data, with identifying information removed will be securely stored in a locked office.
If the results of the study are published, your name will not be used and no information that identifies you will be released or published. If you agree to participate in the interview, you will have the right to review and edit any tapes. Audio tapes will be viewed only by members of the research team and they will be destroyed after the conclusion of the study.
CAN PARTICIPATION IN THE STUDY END EARLY?
You may withdraw at any time and this will in no way affect the quality of care you receive at the Huron County Health Unit. You have the option of asking us to removing your data from the study. You may also refuse to answer any questions you don’t want to answer and still remain in the study.
WILL I BE PAID TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUDY?
If you agree to participate in the interview, we will reimburse you with $20 to be sent to you after the interview. If you request to have your data withdraw, you will not be required to return the gift certificate.
WILL THERE BE ANY COSTS?
Your participation in this research project will not involve additional costs to you.
IF I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS, WHOM CAN I CALL?
If you have any questions about the research now or later, please contact Ruta Valaitis at 905 5259140 ext 22298 or email .
If you have any questions regarding your rights as a research participant, you may contact Hamilton Health Sciences Patient Relations Specialist at 905-521-2100, ext. 75240.
CONSENT STATEMENT
I have read the preceding information thoroughly. I have had the opportunity to ask questions, and all of my questions have been answered to my satisfaction. I understand that by completing the consent form (signature required below), I have agreed to participate in this study. I understand that I can print a copy of this form as a reference.
Signature of Participant:
______
Name of Participant
______
Signature Date
______
Signature of Parent where youth under 18 years of ageDate
Signature of investigator:
In my judgement, the participant is voluntarily and knowingly giving informed consent and possesses the legal capacity to give informed consent to participate in this research study.
______
Signature of InvestigatorDate
Consent Form Date: June 25, 2006Page 1 of 3 Protocol # and version: 1