Association and Mediators of Leisure Time Physical Activity and Mental Health among People with Spinal Cord Injury in Canada

Thank you for your interest in my study “Association and Mediators of Leisure Time Physical Activity (LTPA) and Mental Health among People with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in Canada.” This survey study has been undertaken to understand the association of LTPA and mental health among people with SCI.

 

Overview of procedures: This is a survey based study, if you agree to participate in this study I would like you to answer the questions in the survey.  Through these questions I am interested in knowing your physical activity schedule and any emotional symptoms you experienced in past one week. Also, I would like to know about about your support system (emotional, physical, financial) and the factors that promote or restrict your participation in leisure activities.

 

Benefits, Risks & Confidentiality: There are minimal risks associated with this study such as you might feel emotionally overwhelmed while answering the survey, and it will take only 30 – 40 minutes to complete the survey. The purpose of this study is not to be critical of or evaluate you as a person.  The information collected for this study will only be used in relation to this research project.  All the information about you will be kept confidential and limited to Dr. Angela Loucks-Atkinson and me. This information will not be shared with any other person. Collective results will be shared with the organizations helping in the data collection of this study. The following steps will be taken to reduce issues of privacy and confidentiality: 1) All surveys will be provided with an identification code (i.e. no identifying information will be entered into the database); 2) Data will only be reported in aggregate form (overall Canada), with no individual results available; 3) All data will be kept in a secure location at Memorial University (Physical Education Building) and access to the data will only be given to me and my thesis supervisor (Dr. Loucks-Atkinson); 4) All data will be destroyed after five years;  5) Data collected will only be used in relation to this research project; and 6) Organizations helping in recruitment will be provided the opportunity to know the collective results.

Survey Monkey is a web-based survey site and tool that employs multiple layers of security to make sure that the data remains private and secure. Survey monkey employs a third-party firm to conduct daily audits of their security, and the survey data resides behind the latest in firewall and intrusion prevention technology. However, since Survey Monkey is owned by an American company, guarantees of confidentiality and anonymity provided must be tempered by the acknowledgement that all data collected and maintained by the company is subject to the US Patriot Act and has the potential of being appropriated by a designated government agency without any notification to the researcher or participants.  Therefore, anonymity and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.  While it is highly unlikely that United States Homeland Security would demand the data the possibility does exist. The web-survey data will be accessible to the researcher and her supervisor who have the password for the site. 

Your participation in this study is voluntary, and you can refuse to answer any questions without giving any reason and without ramifications. By completing the survey you are providing consent to participate. The proposal of this research has been reviewed by the Health Research Ethics Authority (HREA) and found to be in compliance with the standards of the Canadian Tri-Council Research Ethics guidelines.  If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me, Amita Goyal.  I am best reached by email at ag6858@mun.ca or by phone at (709) 986-5135.