UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI INFORMATION SHEET FOR RESEARCH STUDY
STUDY TITLE:
Establishing bEHR (the Black Electronic Health Record) Health Systems Inc. as a tool for health-related research
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR NAME: Kelly Merrill Jr., Ph.D.
PHONE NUMBER (24-hour Emergency Contact) 513-558-5259
FACULTY ADVISOR (if PI is student):
DEPARTMENT:
School of Communication, Film, and Media Studies
INTRODUCTION
You are being asked to take part in a research study. Please read this paper carefully and ask questions about anything that you do not understand.
WHO IS DOING THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
The person in charge of this research study is Kelly Merrill Jr., Ph.D. of the University of Cincinnati (UC) School of Communication, Film, and Media Studies.
There may be other people on the research team helping at different times during the study.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
The purpose of this research study is to gain an understanding of the current level of health within the Black community. We will use currently existing in-app data to comparatively assess the current health standing of our users. Additionally, we are using a survey to identify specific components of the application that are contributing to health-related decision making of our users.
WHO WILL BE IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
About 500 people will take part in this study. You may be in this study if
You are a user of the bEHR application
You are over 18
Read and speak English
WHAT IF YOU ARE AN EMPLOYEE WHERE THE RESEARCH STUDY IS DONE?
Taking part in this research study is not part of your job. Refusing to be in the study will not affect your job. You will not be offered any special work-related benefits if you take part in this study.
WHAT WILL YOU BE ASKED TO DO IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?
You will be asked to respond to an online survey regarding your experiences with the bEHR application. You will also respond to several demographic items. It will take about 20 minutes. The research will take place online at a place of your choosing.
ARE THERE ANY RISKS TO BEING IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
The risk is not expected to be more than you would have in daily life. Given that the current study asks about personal experiences related to health, there is a possible risk of psychological discomfort. These experiences could trigger negative emotions or memories for the participant that are related to the specific health topics of interest, and these negative feelings may continue after the study. You can refuse to answer any questions that you do not want to answer. If you want to talk to someone because this research made you feel upset, the researcher will give you information about people who may be able to help you. Since all interactions will take place online, there is always the risk that information cannot be private, but every step will be taken to reduce breach of confidentiality.
ARE THERE ANY BENEFITS FROM BEING IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
You will probably not get any benefit from taking part in this study. But being in this study may help future researchers strategically target a population of people that are historically underrepresented in health-related studies.
WHAT WILL YOU GET BECAUSE OF BEING IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
bEHR Health Systems, Inc. will pay you for your participation in this study. For providing us access to your in-app data, you will receive 1 month of bEHR Prime Membership for free (a $5.99 value). For completing the survey in full, you will receive 2 months of bEHR Prime Membership for free (a $11.98 value). For partially completing the survey, you will receive 1 month of bEHR Prime Membership for free (a $5.99 value). Total amount possible to earn for participating in this study is 3 months of bEHR Prime Membership (a $17.97 value).
DO YOU HAVE CHOICES ABOUT TAKING PART IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
If you do not want to take part in this research study you may simply not participate.
HOW WILL YOUR RESEARCH INFORMATION BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL?
Information about you will be kept private by keeping research data on a secure server at the University of Cincinnati and limiting access to research data to the research team.
Your information will be kept on a secure server at the University of Cincinnati for 7 years. After that it will be destroyed and deleted from the server. Since only the research team will have access to the files, your identity and research data will not be disclosed beyond the research team.
The data from this research study may be published; but you will not be identified by name.
The researcher cannot promise that things sent by Internet or email will be private. Information that could identify you will be removed from the study data. After removal, the study data could be used for future research studies. The study data could also be given to another researcher for future research studies. This may be done without getting additional permission from you.
Agents of the University of Cincinnati may inspect study records for audit or quality assurance purposes.
WHAT ARE YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
Nothing in this consent form waives any legal rights you may have. This consent form also does not release the investigator, the institution, or its agents from liability for negligence.
WHAT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
If you have any questions or concerns about this research study, you should contact Kelly Merrill Jr., Ph.D., at kelly.merrill@uc.edu.
The UC Institutional Review Board reviews all research projects that involve human participants to be sure the rights and welfare of participants are protected.
If you have questions about your rights as a participant, complaints and/or suggestions about the study, you may contact the UC IRB at (513) 558-5259. Or, you may call the UC Research Compliance Hotline at (800) 889-1547, or write to the IRB, 300 University Hall, ML 0567, 51 Goodman Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0567, or email the IRB office at irb@ucmail.uc.edu.
DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE PART IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY?
No one has to be in this research study. Refusing to take part will NOT cause any penalty or loss of benefits that you would otherwise have.
You may skip any questions that you don't want to answer.
You may start and then change your mind and stop at any time. To stop being in the study, you should tell Kelly Merrill Jr., Ph.D., at kelly.merrill@uc.edu.
BY SIGNING YOUR NAME BELOW AND TAKING PART IN THESE ACTIVITIES, YOU INDICATE YOUR CONSENT FOR YOUR ANSWERS TO BE USED IN THIS RESEARCH STUDY.
PLEASE KEEP THIS INFORMATION SHEET FOR YOUR REFERENCE.