Occupational Radiation Exposure in Nuclear Medicine Technologists
Participant Information Statement
Occupational Radiation Exposure in Nuclear Medicine Technologists Participant Questionnaire Document Version 1: dated March 2018
You are invited to participate in the research project identified above which is being conducted by Samantha O’Brien. The research is part of Samantha’s Higher Degree by Research studies at the University of Newcastle. Associate Professor Helen Warren-Forward and Dr Daphne James from the School of Health Sciences at the University of Newcastle are Samantha’s supervisors.
Why is the research being done? Long term health effects of chronic low level radiation exposure in health practitioners has never been investigated in Australia. The outcomes of this research will highlight the lifestyles, health status and attitudes of Australian nuclear medicine technologists working with radiation.
Who can participate in the research? To be eligible for participation in this research you must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) in the division of nuclear medicine technology.
What would you be asked to do? If you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. This questionnaire will be completed online using a platform hosted by SurveyMonkey. SurveyMonkey’s privacy policy can be located at https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/policy/privacy-policy/.
What choice do you have? Participation in this research is entirely your choice. Only those people who give their informed consent will be included in the research. Whether or not you decide to participate, your decision will not disadvantage you. If you do decide to participate, you may withdraw anytime until submission of the survey. Once submitted, you will be unable to withdraw your responses as all data is collected anonymously.
How much time will it take? Completion of the questionnaire is expected to take 15 - 20 minutes.
What are the risks and benefits of participating? Some of the health related questions are of a sensitive nature and may cause some emotional distress. If you believe that answering questions about your health will negatively affect you, then it might be best if you do not participate. If you decide to participate, you do not need to answer all questions and you can stop at any time by simply closing the browser. If you need to talk to someone, you can contact lifeline on 13 11 14.
There are no direct benefits to the participants, however it is expected that the outcomes of the research will reinforce the importance of radiation safety practices and risk stratification among Australian nuclear medicine technologists. Participants may request a summary of the findings from the study by contacting Samantha O’Brien after 01/12/2018.
