Discrete Choice Experiment project - Participant information sheet

Evaluating management and prevention of medication errors in paediatric acute care: a discrete choice experiment

Dr Virginia Mumford, Research Fellow
Chief Investigator
Phone: +61 (02) 9850 2498
Fax: +61 (02) 9850 2499
Email: virginia.mumford@mq.edu.au

Aims of the project: to measure parent preferences regarding different aspects of care whilst their child is in hospital

You have been invited to participate in this pilot test as you kindly agreed to take part in one of the stakeholder groups that we held in order to determine what topics should be included in the study. After reviewing the results of the stakeholder groups we have designed a study with seven different topics.

There are several parts to this survey.

1. Information and Consent Form. We will explain why the survey is important and explain what you will need to do. At the end of this section we will ask whether you agree to take part in the survey.
2. General questions. These questions will ask about you and your children's experiences in hospital and some basic information about you. We will not be collecting any data that can identify you.
3. The Survey. We will present you with pairs of scenarios that describe seven different issues arising from having a child in hospital and ask you to choose which of the two scenarios you prefer.
4. Post-survey. As this is a pilot study we will seek your feedback on how user-friendly you found the survey and whether there are areas that could be improved.    The time taken to complete the study will be measured. You may also be invited to take part in a “think-aloud test” where a researcher will record your remarks as you go through the pilot test so that we can understand if there are particular areas of the survey that need to be explained more clearly.

Outcome of the pilot test: The results of the pilot survey will be used to ensure the survey is easy to use and complete.

Personal Information: Any information or personal details gathered in the course of the study are confidential, except as required by law. No individual will be identified in any publication of the results, however de-identified data will be available to the project team. A summary of the results of the data we collect can be made available to you on request by emailing or phoning Dr Mumford using the contact details above.

Effects of participating in the survey: We do not anticipate any ill effects from participating in the study but understand that you may become distressed if you have had an experience of a medication error or sick child in hospital. Should you become distressed you withdraw from the study. You may also contact Dr Mumford or Professor Johanna Westbrook, for help in accessing appropriate support services. Professor Westbrook who is responsible for the clinical governance oversight of the project, can be contacted on 02 9850 2402.

Participation in this study is entirely voluntary: you are not obliged to participate and if you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw at any time without having to give a reason and without consequence.

The ethical aspects of this study: The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee for the Sydney Children’s Hospital Network. If you have any complaints or reservations about any ethical aspect of your participation in this research, you may contact the Macquarie University Ethics Committee through the Director, Research Ethics & Integrity (telephone (02) 9850 7854; email ethics@mq.edu.au). Any complaint you make will be treated in confidence and investigated, and you will be informed of the outcome.