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PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET
1. What is the study about?

We are interested in finding out from you about your experiences seeing a psychologist / clinical psychologist for consultation in Australia.  
 
We are also interested in finding out about your expectations you had about these consultations. 
 
2. Who is carrying out the study?

Dr.Gomathi Sitharthan, Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, University of Sydney. 
Professor Thiagarajan (Raj) Sitharthan, Department of Psychiatry, University of Sydney.

3. What does the study involve?

This is an anonymous investigation. If you have seen a psychologist or a clinical psychologist in the past 24 months, we are interested in finding out about your experiences. You will be required to complete questionnaires about what expectations you had before seeing a psychologist, and about your experiences from these professional consultations. You will also be asked to provide information about your age, gender, ethnicity and living status. No personal details are required (e.g. name / address). The questionnaires will take approximately 30-minutes to complete. The information collected will be handled in confidence. You can withdraw from the study anytime you wish.
 

Some of you while answering about your experiences may feel distressed. if you feel distressed answering the questionnaires please contact any one of the following agencies for assistance in Australia: Life Line phone number 131114, your General Practitioner (GP), Mental Health Information Service - ph: 300 794 99, SANE Australia Helpline - ph: 1800 18 SANE(7263), Salvo Care Line - ph: 1300 363 622, the Australian Psychological Society: http://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist/Default.aspx?ID=
4. How much time will the study take?

The study will take about 30 to 40 minutes to complete.
5. Can I withdraw from the study?

Participation is entirely voluntary - you are not under any obligation to participate and, if you do participate, you can withdraw at any time without giving any reason and without any consequences. If you consent to being part of this study, you will be required to click the "SUBMIT" button. If you decide NOT to consent, do not click the "SUBMIT" button. You can withdraw any time prior to submitting your completed survey by closing the
window on the web browser. Once you have submitted your survey anonymously, your responses cannot be withdrawn.
6. Will anyone else know the results?

All aspects of the study, including results, will be confidential and only the researcher will have access to information on participants. A report of the study will be submitted for publication, but individual participants will not be identifiable in such a report.
 
If you wish, you will be able to receive information about the findings of the research by contacting the researchers Dr. Gomathi Sitharthan, email: Gomathi.sitharthan@sydney.edu.au or Professor Raj Sitharthan by email: thiagarajan.sitharthan@sydney.edu.au. A brief one-page result of the study in lay terms will be made available to you via your nominated email. In addition, a summary of the findings of the study will be also be posted on the online site.
7. Will the study benefit me?

There are no immediate or direct benefits from participation. However, your responses as a consumer may provide information that can be useful to clinicians and policy makers to understand about consumers experiences and preferences
8. Can I tell other people about the study?

Yes, you may tell the people about the study. If you tell other people about the study and they, too, wish to participate, you may provide them with the chief investigators contact details so they can find out about the study for themselves.

9. What if I require further information about the study or my involvement in it?

If you would like to know more at any stage, please feel free to contact the researchers: Dr. Gomathi Sitharthan via email Gomathi.Sitharthan@sydney.edu.au  or phone (02) 93519584 or Professor Raj Sitharthan, via email: thiagarajan.sitharthan@sydney.edu.au or phone: 0411286109
10. What if I have a complaint or concerns?

Any person with concerns or complaints about the conduct of a research study can contact The Manager, Human Ethics Administration, University of Sydney on +61 2 8627 8176 (Telephone); +61 2 8627 8177 (Facsimile) or ro.humanethics@sydney.edu.au (Email). 

 
                                                 
This information sheet is for you to keep

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