PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET AND CONSENT FORM

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET AND CONSENT FORM

Title: Qualitative Research Methods

Chief Investigator

Ms Leigh Moore (topic coordinator)

College of Medicine and Public Health

Flinders University

Tel: (08) 8920 0213 Email: leigh.moore@flinders.edu.au

Co-Investigators

Students enrolled in PHCA8011: Introduction to qualitative research methods.

Flinders University

My name is XXX and I am a Flinders University Masters student. I am undertaking this research as part of my degree. For further information, you are more than welcome to contact my topic co-ordinator. Her details are listed above.

Description of the study

Using focus group discussions, this project will explore peoples perceptions of type 2 diabetes (sometimes called adult-onset diabetes). This project is supported by Flinders University, College of Medicine and Public Health.

Purpose of the study

This project provides the student named above, with an opportunity to develop research skills by facilitating a focus group examining perceptions of type 2 diabetes and analysing the results of that discussion.

Benefits of the study

There will be no direct benefit to you. The project is for the purpose of student training only.

Participant involvement and potential risks

If you agree to participate in the research study, you will be asked to:

attend a virtual, or face to face, group interview (also known as a focus group) with a student researcher.

respond to questions regarding your views about type 2 diabetes (no right or wrong answers)

participate with up to five others in the group

agree for this to be audio recorded

The interview will take about 60 minutes and participation is entirely voluntary.

We dont anticipate any risk to participants other than feeling uncomfortable with the discussion or that they have not been listened to. You will most likely find the focus group enjoyable. You will not be asked to share any information that you would not like other people to know about.

If you do feel upset participating in the focus group, please tell the interviewer or contact the Chief Investigator (details above). You may also contact the following services for support:

Lifeline 13 11 14, www.lifeline.org.au

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, www.beyondblue.org.au

(International students should add suitable contact services in their area)

Withdrawal Rights

You may, without any penalty, decline to take part in this research study. If you decide to take part and later change your mind, you may, without any penalty, withdraw at any time without providing an explanation. To withdraw, please contact the Chief Investigator or you may just refuse to answer any questions or leave the Focus Group discussions. Any data collected up to the point of your withdrawal will be securely destroyed.

Once the focus group has concluded, your data will no longer be identifiable, so is unable to be removed after that time.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Only researchers listed on this form have access to the individual information provided by you. Privacy and confidentiality will be assured at all times. The student may ask you to provide demographic information like your year of birth, gender, country of birth, marital status, your occupation, where you are from, whether you have worked in a health field and if you have diabetes. Prior to submitting their assessment, the student will remove your name from any information except the consent form. Your comments will not be linked to your name and only the people present at the focus group will know what was said by you.

No data, including identifiable, non-identifiable and de-identified datasets, will be shared or used in future research projects without your explicit consent.

Data Storage

The information collected may be stored securely on a password protected computer and/or Flinders University server throughout the study. Any identifiable data will be de-identified for data storage purposes. Once the student named above, submits their assessment piece, de-identified data will be stored securely on the Flinders University server according to university assessment protocols. Students will be required to delete any identifying information from personal files.

How will I receive feedback?

On project completion, if you wish to, you may request that the interviewing student provide you with a short, de-identified summary of the outcomes from your focus group.

Ethics Committee ApprovalThe project has been approved by Flinders Universitys Human Research Ethics Committee (Project ID 5120).

Queries and Concerns

Queries or concerns regarding the research can be directed to the topic coordinator, Leigh Moore. If you have any complaints or reservations about the ethical conduct of this study, you may contact the Flinders Universitys Research Ethics & Compliance Office team via telephone 08 8201 2543 or email human.researchethics@flinders.edu.au.

Thank you for taking the time to read this information sheet which is yours to keep. If you accept our invitation to be involved, please sign the enclosed Consent Form.

CONSENT FORM

Consent Statement

FORMCHECKBOX I have read and understood the information about the research, and I understand I am being asked to provide informed consent to participate in this research study. I understand that I can contact the research team if I have further questions about this research study.

FORMCHECKBOX I am not aware of any condition that would prevent my participation, and I agree to participate in this project.

FORMCHECKBOX I understand that I am free to withdraw at any time during the study.

FORMCHECKBOX I understand that I can contact Flinders Universitys Research Ethics & Compliance Office if I have any complaints or reservations about the ethical conduct of this study.

FORMCHECKBOX I understand that my involvement is confidential, and that the information collected will be used for a student assessment piece. I understand that I will not be identified in any research products.

FORMCHECKBOX I understand that I will be unable to withdraw my data and information from this project up until the point that it is no longer identifiable as my data.

I further consent to:

FORMCHECKBOX participating in a Focus Group discussion

FORMCHECKBOX having my information audio recorded

FORMCHECKBOX sharing my de-identified data with other researchers

FORMCHECKBOX my data and information being used in this project

Signed:

Name:

Date:

INTRODUCTION TURN ON THE AUDIO RECORDER. IF YOU ARE USING A VIRTUAL MEETING PLATFORM, REMEMBER NOT TO RECORD IMAGES (USE AN EXTERNAL AUDIO RECORDER SO THAT PEOPLE CAN STILL SEE EACH OTHER ON THE SCREEN)

Welcome: Thank participants for coming.

Explain the project and what you are asking people to do:

e.g., You have been invited here to offer your views and opinions through a group discussion, on type 2 diabetes sometimes called adult-onset diabetes. (Explain what a focus group is). The results will be used for an assignment at my university.

ETHICS (you should have provided potential participants with the

Participant Information and Consent Forms (available on FLO) either in hardcopy or electronically at least a week before the focus group)

Ask participants if they have any questions about the forms and answer these for them.

If they havent already done so, ask them to sign and return the forms to you now, if they are still happy to volunteer. Let them know again that they can choose to withdraw at any time during the focus group. Make sure that they have a signed copy of the PCIF to keep for themselves.

You are required to submit your copy of the signed forms as part of your assessment.

GROUND RULES FOR PARTICIPANTS

There are no right or wrong answers

Im looking for a range of views on the topic

There are no right or wrong answers

It is okay to be critical and to disagree - I want to hear your views and opinions.

It is important that everyone has a chance to participate, and I would ask that you try to speak one at a time

Please use your first names only during the discussion.

This session will be audiorecorded using__________(name of device/program e.g. iPhone voice memos) so that I dont have to rely on my memory.

Recordings will be deleted once I have transcribed them.

OPENING QUESTION Ice-breaker

Lets begin by finding out a little bit about each of you. Please tell everyone your first name and tell us what you enjoy doing during your free time.

As I mentioned, my name is __________, and I enjoy __________.

Lets begin on my left and move around the table (or screen if online).

DATA GATHERING QUESTIONS

Describe the first word that comes to mind when you think of adult onset or type 2 diabetes as it is also known?

Imagine I am a friend who knows nothing about type two adult-onset diabetes how would you explain it to me?

How do you get adult-onset diabetes?

What do you think is the main cause or causes of type 2 diabetes?

What are some of the signs that you might be getting diabetes?

What are some of the effects of type 2 diabetes over time?

In your view, is type 2 diabetes preventable?

What would you do to reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes?

In your view, once you have diabetes can it be reversed or cured?

If no, why if yes, how?

Remember to: REVIEW THE KEY VIEWS OF YOUR GROUP

It seems to me that you are saying__________

Or the key messages I am hearing today are: __________

CONFIRM THIS BY ASKING

Is that correct, have I covered the main points? If they say no, or add things you have missed, then REVIEW and CONFIRM AGAIN

CLOSING

We are almost finished. Is there anything else youd like to say before we finish up?

THANK THEM AGAIN

ASK THEM TO FILL OUT SHORT FORM ON DEMOGRAPHICS

(via email if virtual)

(you should have previously developed a short form that collects data anonymously on the following demographics)

Year born

Gender,

Country of birth

Marital status. Not married, married, separated, divorced, widowed

I have worked in the healthcare field in the past Y/N

Current occupation

Highest educational qualification

What state or territory do you currently reside in?

Do you have type 2 diabetes (adult-onset diabetes) Y/N?

Do you have type 1 diabetes, Y/N

Try to get some depth into your data dig deeper, ask questions about the things they say

Respect what you hear, especially if it is different from your own knowledge, even if it seems odd, or incorrect.

Have fun and enjoy the learning experience.