Comfortable in the Chaos

I am asking if you wish to volunteer for a research study about the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on EMS personnel and how it may correlate with compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and moral injury. This research is being conducted as part of my Ph.D. requirements. You are being asked to participate because you are 18 years or older, currently living in the U.S. and working in the field of EMS. This page is designed to give you key information to help you decide whether to participate. Detailed study information follows this page. If you have questions later, the contact information for the research investigator in charge of the study is below.

WHAT IS THE STUDY ABOUT AND HOW LONG ARE YOU BEING ASKED TO PARTICIPATE?

The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on EMS personnel and how this may interplay with compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, burnout, and moral injury. For a complete description of the study, refer to the Detailed Consent that follows. By doing this study, I hope to learn what percentage of the EMS population has been impacted by ACEs and if there is a relationship to compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction, burnout, or moral injury. Your participation in this research will last about 30 minutes.

WHAT ARE KEY REASONS YOU MIGHT CHOOSE TO VOLUNTEER FOR THIS STUDY?

You may want to participate in this study to help bolster our understanding of your unique experience. In doing so, I hope to strengthen peer support systems. For a complete description of benefits and/or rewards, refer to the Detailed Consent.

WHAT ARE KEY REASONS YOU MIGHT CHOOSE NOT TO VOLUNTEER FOR THIS STUDY?

The largest risk in participation of the study is potential for emotional or psychological discomfort. For a complete description of risks, refer to the Detailed Consent.

DO YOU HAVE TO TAKE PART IN THE STUDY?

It is not a requirement to take part in this study. You can withdrawal from the study at anytime you wish. If you decide to take part in the study, it should be because you really want to volunteer. You will not lose any services, benefits, or rights you would normally have if you choose not to volunteer or if you choose to withdraw from the study.

WHAT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, SUGGESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
The person in charge of this study is Jane Lemaux and is advised by Dr. Vasiliki Georgoulas-Sherry of the Humanistic Psychology Department at Saybrook University. If you have questions, suggestions, or concerns regarding this study, please contact the PI at: jlemaux@saybrook.edu.

If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns about your rights as a volunteer in this research, or if you are harmed in this research, contact the Saybrook Institutional Review Board (IRB) Office at 626-316-5380 or irb@saybrook.edu.

ARE THERE REASONS WHY YOU WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS STUDY?

You would be considered ineligible if you are under the age of 18, live outside the U.S., or have never worked within the EMS field as a credentialed provider.

WHERE WILL THE STUDY TAKE PLACE AND WHAT IS THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF TIME INVOLVED?

The research takes place in on online format, taken in your own time, at your own pace. You should allow for a maximum of 30 minutes to complete the entire assessment.

WHAT WILL YOU BE ASKED TO DO?

The research activities include: a demographic survey and a series of 3 validated and reliable psychological assessment surveys. These surveys can be completed from the comfort of a private space and at your own leisure. If you choose to participate, all you will need to do is click on the link which will direct you to a secure SurveyMonkey site.

There will be a short demographic survey (no identifying information will be asked of you), followed by the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) questionnaire, the Professional Quality of Life (ProQol) scale, and the Life Events Checklist (LEC-5). These surveys can be taken at your leisure and within the privacy of your own home. These assessments are used to assess aspects such as adverse childhood experiences, compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue, burnout, vicarious trauma, and stressful life events.

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE RISKS AND DISCOMFORTS?

Participating in this study may involve possible risks in the form of emotional or psychological discomfort. Although this is not the only risk, it is the most likely risk or side effect. Some topics covered within the assessments may prompt self-reflection of personal history which may seem confrontational.

WHAT ARE SOME RESOURCES IF DISCOMFORT ARISES?

If you are already working with an established mental health practitioner, you are encouraged to speak further with them. Additional resources include: the 988 helpline, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, the crisis text line by texting HOME to 741741, the NAMI helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or text HelpLine to 62640. To find a provider or to learn more about mental health, websites such as Psychology Today (www.psychologytoday.com), the American Psychological Association (www.apa.org), and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org) are also beneficial.

WILL YOU BENEFIT FROM TAKING PART IN THIS STUDY?

I do not know if you will get any benefit from taking part in this study. However, some people have experienced personal insight from reflection of how ACEs may tie into career choice and experiences therein. Information gleaned from this study may help enhance the understanding of your experience and to provide more comprehensive support systems for you and others within the profession.

WHAT WILL IT COST YOU TO PARTICIPATE?

There are no costs associated with taking part in this study.

WHO WILL SEE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU PROVIDE?

When clicking on the link to the survey, you become entirely anonymous as the survey site and social media site are not connected. Therefore, I will not know if you have decided to participate or not. Ensuring further confidentiality, none of the assessments will require that you provide any identifying information. You will remain anonymous throughout the process and your information is protected.

CAN YOU CHOOSE TO WITHDRAW FROM THE STUDY EARLY?

You can choose to leave the study at any time. You will not be treated differently if you decide to stop taking part in the study. If you choose to leave the study early, data collected until that point will remain in the study database and may not be removed.

WILL YOU RECEIVE ANY REWARDS FOR TAKING PART IN THIS STUDY?

You will not receive any rewards or payment for taking part in the study.

WILL YOU BE GIVEN INDIVIDUAL RESULTS FROM THE RESEARCH TESTS/SURVEYS?

Generally, tests/surveys done for research purposes are not meant to provide results that apply to you alone.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

If you volunteer to take part in this study, you will be one of about 150 people to do so.

I am a Saybrook University doctoral student and I am being guided in this research by Dr. Vasiliki Georgoulas-Sherry.

WILL YOUR INFORMATION BE USED FOR FUTURE RESEARCH?

Your information collected for this study will NOT be used or shared for future research studies.

WHERE WILL INFORMATION BE STORED AND FOR HOW LONG?

The information will be stored at a password secured and encrypted site that is only accessible to the PI for no less than 3 years.

INFORMED CONSENT SIGNATURES

This consent includes the following:

· Key Information Page
· Detailed Consent

You are the subject. You will receive a copy of this consent form after it has been signed.