You are being invited to take part in a study. Before you decide whether or not to take part it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please read the information with care.
What is the study about?
You can now buy kits to test yourself for illness in your own home. Little is known about how people think about these kits, why some people choose to use them but others do not, and whether people find the kits helpful.
We are looking at tests for chlamydia. Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI) so it is important to learn what people think about using kits to test for chlamydia, why people might choose to use kits, and what they might do if they find out that they have an infection.
Taking part in this study will not have any direct benefit for you, but our findings will be useful in guiding decisions about how test kits are used to support people who may have an infection.
We are inviting up to 350 people to take part in this study. Anyone who is at least 16 years old is welcome to take part, whether or not they have used a kit to test themselves for chlamydia.
What will happen if I take part?
If you would like to take part, click on the link at the bottom of this information sheet. This will take you to the on-line survey.
This survey asks you about what you think about chlamydia and about using tests for chlamydia. It also asks you about whether you have used a kit to test yourself for chlamydia and, if you have, how you found the experience. It is useful to know some general information about people who take part too, including age, sex and ethnicity.
The whole questionnaire will take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
We are also looking for people who would be happy to complete a very short follow-up questionnaire three months after completing this survey. This will ask whether you have done a test for chlamydia since completing the first survey.
You will be asked whether you would be interested in completing the follow-up study at the end of the first study. If you would just like to complete the first questionnaire and not be contacted again that is fine too!
This study was closed to new participants on 11 January 2012. We still welcome participants who completed the first part of the study to complete the follow-up questionnaire.
Are there any risks in taking part?
Some people find it embarrassing to answer questions about sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia. Don’t worry – all of your responses are completely confidential. If you prefer not to answer any question, just move on to the next question.
Do I have to take part?
Whether or not you take part is completely up to you. If you choose to take part, you are free to withdraw from the study at any time, without giving a reason.
Will my taking part in this study be kept confidential?
Taking part in this study is completely confidential. When we write up the results it will not be possible to know who took part. If you give us your email address to take part in the follow-up or to request a summary of results, it will be stored separately from your questionnaire responses and deleted as soon as we have contacted you as agreed. Only anonymous data will be kept. This will be stored at Aston University for 10 years and then destroyed also.
What will happen to the results of the research study?
When the study is complete, our findings will be shared with local health providers, the study will be written up for publication in a scientific journal, it will be used to develop future research projects and we will also send a summary of results to you if you would like us to do so. It will not be possible to identify you in any of these documents.
Who is organising and funding the research?
This research has been organised by Rachael Powell and Helen Pattison from the School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University and Jill Francis from the Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen. Rachael Powell is funded by the Research Councils UK.
Who has reviewed the study?
This research has been approved by Aston University's Ethics Committee.
Who do I Contact if I need Further Information?
For further information about the study, contact Rachael Powell, r.k.powell@aston.ac.uk, tel. 0121 204 4188, postal address: Psychology, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET. http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/staff/az-index/rachael-powell/
If you would like further information about medical issues raised in this study, useful sources are:
· Your own GP
· NHS Direct tel. 0845 4647, http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/ or
· National Chlamydia Screening Programme, http://www.chlamydiascreening.nhs.uk/
Who do I contact if I wish to make a complaint about the way in which the research is conducted?
If you have any concerns about the way in which the study is conducted, contact the Secretary of the University Research Ethics Committee, tel. 0121 2044665, email: j.g.walter@aston.ac.uk.
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