University of St. Thomas – Institutional Review Board
Informed Consent to Participate in Research
You are being asked to participate in the research project described below. Your participation in this study is voluntary; you may refuse to participate, or you may decide to stop your participation at any time.
Should you refuse to participate or withdraw your consent and stop participating in the study, your decision will involve no penalty or loss of benefits to which you may be entitled otherwise.
Please read the information below carefully and ask questions about anything you do not understand before deciding whether to participate.
STUDY TITLE: Correlation Analysis Between Stress, Wellbeing, Mindfulness and Job Satisfaction correlation for EMS Personnel
RESEARCHER(S): Charles Delano Stepp
FACULTY ADVISOR: (if applicable): Dr. Victoria Wagner, PhD
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the self-reported levels of perceived stress and wellbeing in a population of paramedics and firefighters in correlation with job satisfaction and mindfulness.
ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 50-350
PROCEDURES FOR PARTICIPANTS: Participants will be completing an online, self-reported questionnaire. This questionnaire will be conducted via SurveyMonkey per the UST Psychology account upon consent for participation.
EXPECTED DURATION OF PARTICIPATION: The participants should take between 20-30 minutes to complete the questionnaire.
RISKS OF PARTICIPATION AND SAFEGUARDS: There is minimal risk in completion of the survey. Since the study focuses on mindfulness and stress, there may be some discomfort in recalling stressful events. Resources are provided to the participants to address these concerns.
POSSIBLE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION: Providing live feedback about their current stress and wellbeing to help promote change and/or other research to support change.
COMPENSATION: There is no direct compensation to the participants.
PARTICIPANT PRIVACY:
The study uses an anonymous survey to collect data. The researcher will not collect any information that could identify you as a participant.
ACCESS TO RECORDS: The following people will have access to study records that do not include your name or other identifying information: Charles Delano Stepp and Victoria Wagner
CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS: Every effort will be made to keep your study records confidential. The data collected from the study may be used for educational and publication purposes, but you will not be identified by name. The researcher will securely maintain study records for at least 3 years, after which they will be destroyed.
FUTURE USE OF DATA: The researcher will use this data to inform and support the development of a future positive psychology study.
INVESTIGATOR’S RIGHT TO WITHDRAW PARTICIPANT: The researcher has the right to withdraw you from this study at any time.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS: The researcher has offered to answer all your questions. If you have additional questions during this study about the research or any related problem, you may contact the researcher, Charles Delano Stepp, at 281 387 7455 or Steppc@stthom.edu. The faculty advisor, Dr. Victoria Wagner, may be contacted at 713-525-3197 or wagnerv@stthom.edu
THIS RESEARCH STUDY HAS BEEN REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY THE INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS.
For additional information concerning your rights as a human subject, please contact Dr. John Palasota, Interim Vice-President of Academic Affairs, 713-525-2164
STUDY CRITERIA AND AGREEMENT TO PARTICIPATE: To participate in this study, you must be:
Between the ages of 18 and 64
Active Full-time Firefighter or Paramedic
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