Consent Form |
PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET and CONSENT FORM
PROJECT TITLE: Veterinary Professionals' Experiences of Trauma at Work.
HUMAN RESEARCH ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL NUMBER: H-2022-210
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Associate Professors Michelle McArthur, Susan Hazel (secondary supervisor) and Samantha Franklin (secondary supervisor) - School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
Natalie Worth - student
PhD candidate - School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Roseworthy Campus University of Adelaide
Dear Participant,
You are invited to participate in the research project described below.
WHAT IS THIS PROJECT ABOUT?
Thank you for considering filling in this survey. You may have been asked to do several surveys recently and we acknowledge this can be time consuming.
This survey is short and has one purpose - to determine if veterinary professionals experience stressful life events in their daily work that could contribute to experiences of trauma. Veterinary professionals refers to veterinary nurses, veterinary students who are in final years, veterinarians, veterinary laboratory professionals, lecturers in veterinary courses, veterinary researchers etc.,
Veterinary professionals can be exposed to experiences such as animal mistreatment, aggressive interactions with clients, animal attacks, loss of patients during procedures, convenience euthanasia and cumulative stressful life/work experiences that can potentially create trauma.
We hope this research will assist our understanding of potential experiences of stressful life events and how best to support veterinary professionals.
WHO IS UNDERTAKING THIS PROJECT?
This project is being conducted by University of Adelaides, Associate Professors: Michelle McArthur, Samantha Franklin, Susan Hazel and Natalie Worth PhD student, University of Adelaide.
WHY AM I BEING ASKED TO PARTICIPATE?
You are being invited to participate in the study because you are a Veterinary Professional.
WHAT WILL I BE ASKED TO DO?
In this study you will be invited to participate in an online survey about your experiences of stress and related issues in the workplace. Your responses will be anonymous.
HOW MUCH TIME WILL THE SURVEY TAKE?
The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
ARE THERE ANY RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROJECT?
Although the survey questions are professional, the talk of mental health and/ or suicide can be upsetting and cause emotional discomfort. The services listed below provide an Australia-wide resource in case you are needing to reach out for support at any time.
While answering these questions, if you experience any emotional distress or discomfort, please consider contacting the services listed at the end of the survey. Some are specific to veterinary professions, and some are the state-based supports.
You can stop the survey and save answers and return to the survey at a later time using a code to log back in.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT?
We hope this research may assist our understanding of potential experiences of stressful life events and how best to support veterinary professionals. The information you provide will be key in this endeavour and you will be invited to consider participating in further studies on this topic and to provide your email address if you agree to be contacted. Please see the paragraph "What will happen to my information ?" regarding confidentiality and anonymity of survey responses.
CAN I WITHDRAW FROM THE PROJECT?
Participation in this project is completely voluntary. You may withdraw your participation at any stage before the submission of your survey. Non-participation or withdrawal from the study will not affect you in any way.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO MY INFORMATION?
Your survey responses will be anonymous. Where there is a question about providing your details to be in the draw to win one of the 3 by $100 prepaid debit cards or about being involved in further research, your contact details will be decoupled from the survey via our survey platform's decoupling facility, thus allowing your responses to remain anonymous. The decoupling facility with Redcap (our survey platform) works via a second survey being created that records emails for the confidential use of the primary researchers only - while the first survey records responses only. A spreadsheet of emails of people wanting to be contacted is therefore created but cannot be linked back to survey responses
Electronic files with survey material will be stored on the researcher's password-protected computer at the University of Adelaide. Surveys and participant Consent Forms for the surveys will be retained for a minimum of five years after any publication that incorporates the results from this study. Results may be published in journal articles and conference presentations, and other means of dissemination. Individual participants will not be identified in any publications arising from this research. Individuals may receive a summary of the results of the study at the completion of the project, and this can be requested by emailing the principal investigator separately.
Contact details provided for any purpose will not be able to be linked with research data. Data submitted in this project may be used to contribute to future studies of Veterinary professionals' experiences of trauma at work and how to prevent this trauma and how to treat the trauma if it occurs. If future study occurs, the data will be provided in an anonymous format only.
Your information will only be used as described in this participant information sheet and it will only be disclosed according to the consent provided, except as required by law.
WHO DO I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT?
If you have any questions about the project, please contact the Principal Investigator for this project, Associate Professor Michelle McArthur at: michelle.mcarthur@adelaide.edu.au
WHAT IF I HAVE A COMPLAINT OR ANY CONCERNS?
If you have questions or problems associated with the practical aspects of your participation in the project, or wish to raise a concern or complaint about the project, then please consult the Principal Investigator. If you wish to speak with an independent person regarding concerns or a complaint, please contact the Human Research Ethics Committee's Secretariat on phone +61 8 8313 6028 or by email to hrec@adelaide.edu.au. Postal: Level 4 Rundle Mall Plaza, 50 Rundle Mall Adelaide 5000, according to the University's policy on research involving human participants, or your rights as a participant. Any complaint or concern will be treated in confidence and fully investigated. You will be informed of the outcome.
CONSENT FORM
1. I have read the attached Information Sheet and agree to take part in the following research project:
Title: Veterinary Professionals' experiences of Trauma at Work
Ethics Approval Number: H-2022-210
2. I have had the project, so far as it affects me, and the potential risks and burdens fully explained to my satisfaction by the research worker. I have had the opportunity to ask any questions I may have about the project and my participation. My consent is given freely.
3. Although I understand the purpose of the research project is to improve the quality of health/medical care, it has also been explained that my involvement may not be of any benefit to me
4. I agree to participate in the activities outlined in the participant information sheet.
5. I understand that as my participation is anonymous, I can withdraw any time up until submission of the survey. I understand that if I decide not to take part or withdraw from the project, that this will not affect the management of my health, now or in the future.
6. I have been informed that the information gained in the project may be published in a book/journal article/thesis/news article/conference presentations/website/report etc.
I have been informed that in the published materials I will not be identified and any personal information that could identify me will not be divulged.
7. I understand my information will only be disclosed according to the consent provided, except where disclosure is required by law.
8. I am aware that I should keep a copy of this Consent Form, when completed, and the attached Information Sheet.
If I want to participate, what do I do?
By clicking the 'Agree' button below the table and submitting your survey results, you indicate your consent to participate in the study and the survey will begin.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Associate Professor Michelle McArthur, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide,
Natalie Worth PhD candidate, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences