Dear Colleagues,
My name is Aveline V. Ajalan, PsyD, and I am a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital. I am kindly requesting your participation in a research study that I am conducting titled: A Survey of Clinicians in Singapore: Comfort and Needs in Providing Care for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities. I am conducting this study in collaboration with Evelyn Law, MD, Tanisha Vanen, PsyD, and my faculty mentor, Jason Fogler, PhD.
This research involves a survey and an interview. You may participate in either survey, interview or both. The survey consists of providing your demographic information and completing questions regarding your work with children with neurodevelopmental disabilities (NDDs). This survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. The purpose of this study is to identify critical barriers and facilitators among physicians and psychologists in Singapore to assure that children with NDDs have access to quality clinical care.
If you choose to participate in the interview, the interview will include questions about your experiences in working with children with NDDs. The interview could take place at your convenience (over the phone, online, or in person). The interview will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
In order to participate, you must meet the following criteria:
1. Be a practicing physician, psychologist or therapist in Singapore
2. Have at least 5 years of experience in providing services to children with NDDs
3. Provide direct clinical services to children with NDDs
Your participation is completely voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time. The survey portion of the study is completely anonymous. We cannot guarantee anonymity if you choose to participate in the follow up telephone interview, but we have taken several measures to protect your privacy. First, all identifying information will be kept confidential; all names will be coded or given pseudonyms to protect your identity. Second, written materials and electronic files will be saved in a password-protected folder on a password protected computer. Third, following the American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines, all materials will be kept for a minimum of five years before being destroyed.
Your participation in the research will be of great importance in improving access and quality of care, informing disability policy, allocating resources, and reducing economic cost and burden of care over time.As a participant in this study, you will be enrolled in a USD$25 Amazon Gift Card Raffle.
If you have questions related to the procedures described in this document please contact Aveline V. Ajalan, PsyD, at aveline.ajalan@childrens.harvard.eduor faculty mentor, Jason Fogler,PhD, at jason.fogler@childrens.harvard.edu.
We appreciate your time in participating in the study.
Sincerely,
Aveline V. Ajalan, PsyD
