Invitation You are being invited to participate in a research study. Before you decide whether to participate, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and feel free to ask if you would like more information or if there is anything that you do not understand. Please also feel free to discuss this with your friends or relatives if you wish. We would like to stress that you do not have to accept this invitation and should only agree to take part if you want to.
What is the purpose of the study? The study is intended to explore your experience of surviving an accidental fall from height. We are interested in amplifying survivors voices and understanding how the experience has impacted upon you. This is an aim in itself, but the research may also be used to improve understanding in medical and therapeutic services about how to work with people with similar experiences in the future.
Why have I been invited to take part? As a survivor of an accidental fall from height your lived experience is valuable to the study.
Do I have to take part? Participation is voluntary and you are free to withdraw participation by closing down the survey without. clicking ‘submit’. If you choose to give your contact details in order to be interviewed about your experience, you can change your mind or ask for your data to be destroyed within a week after the interview, without explanation, and without incurring any disadvantage.
What will happen if I take part? If you decide to take part, you will be asked three survey questions about your accident and the care you received afterwards, as well as what the consequences have been for you (both positive and negative). If you choose to take part in an interview to talk about your experience in more detail, this will be audio recorded and transcribed. The data will then be analysed by the researcher. The interview length will depend on how much you would like to say about your experience, but should take no longer than one hour.
How will my data be used? The University processes personal data as part of its research and teaching activities in accordance with the lawful basis of ‘public task’, and in accordance with the University’s purpose of “advancing education, learning and research for the public benefit”. Under UK data protection legislation, the University acts as the Data Controller for personal data collected as part of the University’s research. The University privacy notice for research participants can be found on the attached link https://www.uclan.ac.uk/data_protection/privacy-notice-research-participants.php
Further information on how your data will be used can be found in the table below.
|
How will my data be collected?
|
Electronically via a survey. If you are interviewed this will be audio recorded digitally.
|
|
How will my data be stored?
|
Your data will be stored in password protected Word documents and kept on a secure server at UCLan. We will not keep any hard copies.
|
|
How long will my data be stored for?
|
We will keep electronic consent forms for seven years and then delete it. We will keep the anonymised data for longer in case it is useful in future research by the same researcher.
|
|
What measures are in place to protect the security and confidentiality of my data?
|
We will encrypt any information about you, which means only people with a password can open the document. Only members of the research team will have the password.
|
|
Will my data be anonymised?
|
Yes, you will be given a pseudonym and no information that could identify you will be included in the write-up of the research.
|
|
How will my data be used?
|
The data you provide will be used to write journal articles, conference presentations and a report for the ‘After Trauma’ website.
|
|
Who will have access to my data?
|
There are no third-parties involved in this project. Peer-reviewed journal articles can be read by anyone.
|
|
Will my data be archived for use in other research projects in the future?
|
We will keep the anonymised data in an archive called UCLan Data for future use, in accordance with the University’s Research Data Management Policy.
|
|
How will my data be destroyed?
|
Electronic consent forms will be deleted from the system in seven years.
|
Are there any risks in taking part? There is some risk that you may feel distressed when recalling your accident. You can choose not to answer any question that you are uncomfortable with.
Are there any benefits from taking part? The potential benefits are that you will be able to more deeply explore and reflect upon your own experience and wellbeing. Exploring the impact of traumatic falls is a valuable subject and may help to inform how survivor of this type of accident are supported.
Expenses and / or payments There should be no expenses and there will be no payment involved in this study.
What will happen to the results of the study? The findings of the study will be written up as an article for submission in a peer-reviewed journal, a report for ‘After Trauma’ website and conferences.
What will happen if I want to stop taking part? If you change your mind about taking part in the survey, do not click ‘submit and close down the web page. If you change your mind about taking part in the interview before it takes place, you can withdraw without giving a reason. If you change your mind after the interview, you have a week in which you can ask for your data to be destroyed.
What if I am unhappy or if there is a problem? If you are unhappy, or if there is a problem, please feel free to contact Ruth Parkes at rparkes@uclan.ac.uk and I will try to help. If you remain unhappy, or have a complaint which you feel you cannot come to us with, then please contact the Ethics, Integrity and Governance Unit at OfficerForEthics@uclan.ac.uk.
The University strives to maintain the highest standards of rigour in the processing of your data. However, if you have any concerns about the way in which the University processes your personal data, it is important that you are aware of your right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office by calling 0303 123 1113.
Who can I contact if I have further questions? Ruth Parkes on rparkes@uclan.ac.uk
I have read the information sheet and have had the opportunity to ask questions about the project. I understand that taking part in the study involves answering three survey questions about my experience of surviving a fall from height. If I choose, I can also opt to take part in an interview by giving my contact details at the end of the survey. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I am free to stop taking part and can withdraw from the study without giving any reason and without my rights being affected. In addition, I understand that I am free to decline to answer any particular question or questions. I understand that if I take part in an interview I can ask for access to the information I provide and I can request the destruction of that information if I wish at any time in the first week after the interview. I understand that following this time I will no longer be able to request access to or withdrawal of the information I provide. I understand that if I take part in an interview, signed electronic consent forms and a transcript of the interview will be kept securely for seven years then deleted. I understand that the information I provide will be held securely and in line with data protection requirements at the University of Central Lancashire and then deposited in CLoK for sharing and use by other authorised researchers to support other research in the future. I understand that other authorised researchers may use my words in publications, reports, webpages, and other research outputs, if their study has been approved by a research ethics committee, and they agree to preserve the confidentiality of the information as requested in this form. I understand and agree that what I have said or written as part of this study will be used in reports, publications and other research outputs.
Required
