To Pee or Not to Pee; Fieldwork, Bathrooms, And Belonging

Online Survey Consent Form

Participant Information & Consent

Purpose of the Study

You are invited to participate in a study exploring how wildlife professionals and students in Alberta experience bathroom access during fieldwork, and how these experiences influence health, safety, and inclusion. Your responses will help researchers identify barriers, coping strategies, and potential improvements to institutional and fieldwork practices.

Eligibility

Participants must be:

18 years of age or older

A student or professional who conducts wildlife or environmental fieldwork in Alberta

Participation Details

You will complete a short online survey (~10 minutes).

Some participants may later be invited for an optional follow-up interview.

Participation is voluntary. You may skip any question or withdraw at any time before submission.

Risks & Benefits

Some questions may feel sensitive, as they relate to bodily needs or workplace culture. You may skip any question that makes you uncomfortable or withdraw at any time before submission. There are no direct personal benefits, but your insights may help improve fieldwork inclusivity and safety.

Confidentiality

No identifying information is required. If you wish to participate in a follow-up study or focus group, please provide your email address at the end of the study . Data will be stored on encrypted drives and analyzed anonymously. Only the research team will have access to raw data. All information will be held confidential, except when legislation or a professional code of conduct requires that it be reported. For example: If a participant discloses information indicating a credible risk of serious harm to themselves or another identifiable individual or if research records could be required to be disclosed if a court of law issues a subpoena or legal order requiring access to the data. Email addresses will be stored separately from survey responses and cannot be linked back to the individual answers.

Consent

"I have read and understood the information contained in this letter, and I agree to participate in the study, on the understanding that I may refuse to answer certain questions, and I may withdraw at any time during the data collection period.”

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* 1. I am 18 or older

Yes

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* 2. I agree to participate

I agree to participate

I do not agree (exit survey)

Section 1: Background & Context

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* 3. What is your primary role in the wildlife field?

Undergraduate student

Graduate student

Technician/Technologist

Field Biologist

Research Scientist

Government Staff

Other

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* 4. How many years of fieldwork experience do you have?

1–3

4–7

8–15

16+

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* 5. On average, how many days per year do you spend in field settings without regular restroom access?

0–5

6–15

16–30

31–60

61+

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* 6. What types of field environments do you typically work in? (check all that apply)

Urban/near facilities

Rural/agricultural

Forest

Wetland

Grassland

Mountain/backcountry

Other

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* 7. How would you describe your gender identity?

Woman

Man

Non-binary / gender diverse

Prefer not to say

Self-describe

Section 2: Bathroom Access and Field Conditions

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* 8. In the past 12 months, during your fieldwork, how often do you have reliable access to a bathroom or toilet facility?

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

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* 9. In the past 12 months during fieldwork, when bathroom facilities are unavailable, which of the following do you most commonly use? (check all that apply)

Natural environment (“bush bathroom”)

Portable toilet

Vehicle-based solution (bottle, bucket, etc.)

Designated site facility

Other

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* 10. How acceptable do you feel your bathroom solutions are within your professional culture?

Not acceptable

Somewhat unacceptable

Neutral

Somewhat acceptable

Fully acceptable

Not acceptable

Somewhat unacceptable

Neutral

Somewhat acceptable

Fully acceptable

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* 11. In the past 12 months, to what extent do bathroom access limitations affect your ability to stay hydrated during fieldwork?

Not at all

Slightly

Moderately

Very

Extremely

Not at all

Slightly

Moderately

Very

Extremely

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* 12. In the past 12 months during fieldwork, have you ever avoided eating or drinking to cope with limited bathroom access?

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

Section 3: Health, Safety, and Well-Being

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* 13. In the past 12 months during fieldwork, how often have you experienced any of the following due to limited bathroom access?

	1 = Never	2	3	4	5 = Very often
a) Dehydration symptoms	a) Dehydration symptoms 1 = Never	a) Dehydration symptoms 2	a) Dehydration symptoms 3	a) Dehydration symptoms 4	a) Dehydration symptoms 5 = Very often
b) Urinary or digestive discomfort	b) Urinary or digestive discomfort 1 = Never	b) Urinary or digestive discomfort 2	b) Urinary or digestive discomfort 3	b) Urinary or digestive discomfort 4	b) Urinary or digestive discomfort 5 = Very often
c) Infection or medical complication	c) Infection or medical complication 1 = Never	c) Infection or medical complication 2	c) Infection or medical complication 3	c) Infection or medical complication 4	c) Infection or medical complication 5 = Very often
d) Stress or anxiety about managing bodily needs	d) Stress or anxiety about managing bodily needs 1 = Never	d) Stress or anxiety about managing bodily needs 2	d) Stress or anxiety about managing bodily needs 3	d) Stress or anxiety about managing bodily needs 4	d) Stress or anxiety about managing bodily needs 5 = Very often
e) Difficulty focusing on work tasks	e) Difficulty focusing on work tasks 1 = Never	e) Difficulty focusing on work tasks 2	e) Difficulty focusing on work tasks 3	e) Difficulty focusing on work tasks 4	e) Difficulty focusing on work tasks 5 = Very often

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* 14. In the past 12 months during fieldwork, how much do bathroom access issues affect your perceived safety during fieldwork?

Not at all

Slightly

Moderately

Very

Extremely

Not at all

Slightly

Moderately

Very

Extremely

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* 15. Have bathroom access concerns ever influenced your willingness to participate in or accept certain field assignments?

Yes

Unsure

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* 16. Describe a time when bathroom availability (or lack thereof) affected your physical comfort, mental well-being, or sense of safety in the field.

Section 4: Social and Organizational Climate

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* 17. How comfortable do you feel discussing bathroom-related needs or accommodations with colleagues or supervisors?

Not comfortable at all

Slightly

Moderately

Very

Extremely

Not comfortable at all

Slightly

Moderately

Very

Extremely

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* 18. In the past 12 months during fieldwork, have you observed gender- or role-based differences in how bathroom needs are addressed or accommodated?

Yes

Unsure

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* 19. How supported do you feel by your institution or employer in meeting basic physiological needs during fieldwork?

Not supported

Slightly

Somewhat

Well

Very well

Not supported

Slightly

Somewhat

Well

Very well

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* 20. How strongly do you agree with the following statements? (1 = Strongly disagree → 5 = Strongly agree)

	1 - Strongly disagree	2	3	4	5 - Strongly agree
My organization includes bathroom planning in field safety protocols.	My organization includes bathroom planning in field safety protocols. 1 - Strongly disagree	My organization includes bathroom planning in field safety protocols. 2	My organization includes bathroom planning in field safety protocols. 3	My organization includes bathroom planning in field safety protocols. 4	My organization includes bathroom planning in field safety protocols. 5 - Strongly agree
Leaders acknowledge that bathroom needs vary across individuals.	Leaders acknowledge that bathroom needs vary across individuals. 1 - Strongly disagree	Leaders acknowledge that bathroom needs vary across individuals. 2	Leaders acknowledge that bathroom needs vary across individuals. 3	Leaders acknowledge that bathroom needs vary across individuals. 4	Leaders acknowledge that bathroom needs vary across individuals. 5 - Strongly agree
Lack of facilities makes me feel less included or valued in my field team.	Lack of facilities makes me feel less included or valued in my field team. 1 - Strongly disagree	Lack of facilities makes me feel less included or valued in my field team. 2	Lack of facilities makes me feel less included or valued in my field team. 3	Lack of facilities makes me feel less included or valued in my field team. 4	Lack of facilities makes me feel less included or valued in my field team. 5 - Strongly agree
Improving bathroom access would enhance participation for underrepresented groups.	Improving bathroom access would enhance participation for underrepresented groups. 1 - Strongly disagree	Improving bathroom access would enhance participation for underrepresented groups. 2	Improving bathroom access would enhance participation for underrepresented groups. 3	Improving bathroom access would enhance participation for underrepresented groups. 4	Improving bathroom access would enhance participation for underrepresented groups. 5 - Strongly agree

Section 5: Coping, Inclusion, and Future Directions

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* 21. What personal strategies or adaptations have you used to manage bathroom access challenges in the field?

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* 22. What policies, resources, or cultural changes would most improve inclusion and safety regarding bathroom access in your fieldwork experiences?

Optional Demographic Information

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* 23. Age range

18–24

25–34

35–44

45–54

55+

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* 24. Where do you primarily conduct fieldwork?

Alberta

Other Canadian province/territory

United States

Other (please specify)

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* 25. Region of primary fieldwork (If you chose "Alberta")

Southern AB(Equal to or South of Calgary)

Central AB(Between Calgary and Edmonton, including Edmonton)

Northern AB (North of Edmonton)

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* 26. Which Province? (if you chose "Other Canadian Provinces")

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* 27. Which State? (If you chose "United States")

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* 28. Employment sector

Academic

Government

NGO

Private

Other

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* 29. Please describe any health or caregiving considerations (familial or otherwise) that affect fieldwork (optional):

C. Debrief and Contact Information

Thank you for contributing your insights. If you have any questions regarding this study, please feel free to ask Everett Hanna or Joshua Hill by emailing them (see below). In the even that you feel psychologically distressed by participation in this study, we encourage you to please contact your local counselling services provider or call the mental health helpline at 1-877-303-2642. You can also visit their website at https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/findhealth/Service.aspx?id=6810&serviceAtFacilityID=1047134 for more information.

This research is conducted by Dr. Everett Hanna and Joshua Hill and has been reviewed and approved by the Lethbridge Polytechnic Research Ethics Board (Protocol # TBD).
For questions or concerns about this study, please contact:
Principal Investigator: Dr. Everett Hanna, everett.hanna@lethpolytech.ca
Co-Investigator: Joshua Hill, joshua.hill@lethpolytech.ca
For concerns about your rights as a participant, contact the Lethbridge Polytechnic REB at appliedresearch@lethbridgecollege.ca.

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* 30. Please indicate if you would like to receive a summary of results once the study concludes

yes- enter email below

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* 31. Please indicate if you would like to participate in future focus groups by providing an email address (optional):

Yes-enter email below