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1. Informed Consent
Directions: Your participation in this research study is being requested. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you can refuse to participate or withdraw at any time without penalty. If you have questions concerning the present research, please contact the principal investigator Sheena M. Walker, Ph.D. at (340) 693-1276, via email at sheena.walker@uvi.edu
What is the purpose of the study? We are asking you to take part in a study of the costs benefits and costs of owning your pet to learn more about the emotional and financial strains of owning a pet as well as the potential benefits. We are asking you to take part in this study because you are a current pet owner.
What will be done if you agree to take part in this research study? You will be asked to fill out a series of questionnaires regarding your experience of pet ownership. It should take about 25 minutes to complete.
What are the possible discomforts and risks? There are no significant risks associated with participating in the study. However, considering your answers for each questionnaire may make you think more specifically about your experience of pet ownership and some of the emotional cost and benefits. This may lead to mild levels of stress thinking of these costs and benefits. We include a hotline number those participants can call and discuss stress they are experiencing. Subjects may also withdraw from the study at any time if answering questions about their current pet becomes too stressful.
What are the possible benefits to society from this research? The knowledge gained from this study may help researchers understand more about the special emotional bond as well as what needs cause stress for owners and pets. Having this knowledge may lead to what steps or resources may help in making pet ownership more beneficial.
What if you are injured because of the study? The risks for participation are minimal. However, mild stress can be addressed by contacting the hotline that is provided in the consent form. (1) Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s free pet-loss hotline: (508) 839-7966 (2) Pet Loss Helpline Illinois (Companion Animal Related Emotions): (217) 244-CARE
Statement concerning COVID-19. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Learn more from the World Health Organization about the COVID-19 virus at the following link: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019. Participating in any form of research during this particular time in history may have inherent psychological risks. It should always be remembered that informed consent is an ongoing process, not a single event, designed to provide potential research subjects with all of the relevant information they need to make a fully informed, autonomous decision as to whether they wish to participate in a research study. Please remember that your participation in this research is voluntary. You are under no obligation to participate. For your convenience, here is a link to the Center for Disease Control which provides advice about ways to deal with stress and anxiety that may emerge during this unprecedented time https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html. If you have any additional questions related to the IRB protocols please contact Diahann Ryan, Assistant Director for Research Compliance, at dryan@uvi.edu. If you have questions related to sponsored program award concerns due to the human subject protocol suspensions please contact Mindy Solivan, Director of Sponsored Programs at mindy.solivan@uvi.edu. Our office will work closely with the IRB to provide guidance to the UVI community.
What is the purpose of the study? We are asking you to take part in a study of the costs benefits and costs of owning your pet to learn more about the emotional and financial strains of owning a pet as well as the potential benefits. We are asking you to take part in this study because you are a current pet owner.
What will be done if you agree to take part in this research study? You will be asked to fill out a series of questionnaires regarding your experience of pet ownership. It should take about 25 minutes to complete.
What are the possible discomforts and risks? There are no significant risks associated with participating in the study. However, considering your answers for each questionnaire may make you think more specifically about your experience of pet ownership and some of the emotional cost and benefits. This may lead to mild levels of stress thinking of these costs and benefits. We include a hotline number those participants can call and discuss stress they are experiencing. Subjects may also withdraw from the study at any time if answering questions about their current pet becomes too stressful.
What are the possible benefits to society from this research? The knowledge gained from this study may help researchers understand more about the special emotional bond as well as what needs cause stress for owners and pets. Having this knowledge may lead to what steps or resources may help in making pet ownership more beneficial.
What if you are injured because of the study? The risks for participation are minimal. However, mild stress can be addressed by contacting the hotline that is provided in the consent form. (1) Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine’s free pet-loss hotline: (508) 839-7966 (2) Pet Loss Helpline Illinois (Companion Animal Related Emotions): (217) 244-CARE
Statement concerning COVID-19. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Learn more from the World Health Organization about the COVID-19 virus at the following link: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019. Participating in any form of research during this particular time in history may have inherent psychological risks. It should always be remembered that informed consent is an ongoing process, not a single event, designed to provide potential research subjects with all of the relevant information they need to make a fully informed, autonomous decision as to whether they wish to participate in a research study. Please remember that your participation in this research is voluntary. You are under no obligation to participate. For your convenience, here is a link to the Center for Disease Control which provides advice about ways to deal with stress and anxiety that may emerge during this unprecedented time https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html. If you have any additional questions related to the IRB protocols please contact Diahann Ryan, Assistant Director for Research Compliance, at dryan@uvi.edu. If you have questions related to sponsored program award concerns due to the human subject protocol suspensions please contact Mindy Solivan, Director of Sponsored Programs at mindy.solivan@uvi.edu. Our office will work closely with the IRB to provide guidance to the UVI community.