What is the
purpose of the study?
The purpose of the study is to find
out if forming walking plans is an acceptable and useful way of helping people
to do more walking in their day-to-day lives.
Why have I
been invited?
We are inviting members of staff at Aston University
who wish to increase their physical activity take part. If you are interested in taking part, please email
Loretta Davis, davisl1@aston.ac.uk.
Do I have
to take part?
It is up to you to decide if you
would like to take part. Loretta Davis
(Researcher) will arrange an appointment to meet with you in MB640 at Aston University.
She will describe the study and go through this information sheet, answering
any questions you might have before you decide if you would like to take part. If you agree to take part, we will then ask
you to sign a consent form. You are free
to withdraw from the study at any time, without giving a reason. This would not affect the care you receive in
any way.
What will
happen to me if I take part?
At the start of the study, you will
be asked to complete a questionnaire that asks how you think about walking and
how much walking you do.
You will then be given advice about
planning walking activity and asked to form plans for walking. We will ask you to speak about your thoughts
as you make these plans and the session will be tape recorded. Loretta Davis will be available to answer any
questions you may have.
One week after your first
appointment you will also be asked to complete a second questionnaire and
participate in an interview about your experience of forming the plans
(interviews will be tape recorded). This
will take place in MB640 at Aston
University.
What are
the possible benefits of taking part?
By taking part in the study you would learn skills
that may be useful to you in helping you to increase your physical
activity. In the long term, increased
physical activity could help to reduce risk of illnesses such as diabetes and
heart disease.
If the study shows that the planning technique is
acceptable it may be further tested and developed to help other people to
increase their physical activity.
What are
the possible disadvantages of taking part?
There is a small chance that you could experience
pain or over-exertion as a result of walking, but you will not be asked to plan
walking any further than you feel comfortable with. Safety is also an important concern if you
are thinking about walking at night or on roads. You will be given information on how to get
started with walking that will include advice on how much to do and tips on
safe places to go.
Will my
taking part in this study be kept confidential?
If you agree to take part in the study, the data
collected will only be looked at by the research team. The information will be kept strictly
confidential.
What will
happen if I don’t want to carry on with the study?
You can
withdraw from taking part in the study any time during the study and up to one
week following it.
What will
happen to the results of the research study?
The study will be written up by Loretta Davis as her
thesis for her MSc in Health Psychology.
Results may also be published in a scientific journal or presented at a
conference. You will not be identified
in any publication of the results.
Quotes from interviews may be used in these reports but they will be
anonymised. If you would like, we can also send you a summary of
the study’s results.
Who is
organising and funding the research?
The study is being conducted by Loretta Davis as part
of her postgraduate studies at Aston
University.
Who has
reviewed this study?
This study has been reviewed and given favourable
opinion by the Aston University Research Ethics Committee.
What if
there is a problem?
If you have a concern about any aspect of the study,
or would like any further information,
please contact the researchers:
Researcher: Ms Loretta Davis 07581860054
davisl1@aston.ac.uk
Research supervisors: Dr Richard Cooke 0121 204 4072 r.cooke@aston.ac.uk
Dr Rachael Powell 0121 204 4188 r.k.powell@aston.ac.uk
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