Young and Well CRC Unit 17, 71 Victoria Crescent ABBOTSFORD VICTORIA 3067 Phone: +61 3 9937 1333 Fax: +61 3 9416 4416 Email: info@yawcrc.org.au Web: youngandwellcrc.org.au ABN 30 151 237 419 PARTICIPANT INFORMATION PROJECT TITLE: RESEARCHERS: National Young People and Asthma Strategy evaluation Associate Professor Jane Burns, Dr Michelle Blanchard, Associate Professor Amanda Third, Associate Professor Lena Sanci, Dr Michael Carr-Greg and Jennifer Morris (1) What is the study about? The study aims to investigate the health and wellbeing of young people with asthma in Australia, aged 12 to 25. The data collected will be used to inform the design and evaluation of the National Young People and Asthma Strategy. This study has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at the University of Melbourne (1441802). (2) Who is carrying out the study? The study is being conducted by the following researchers, on behalf of Asthma Australia: Dr Michelle Blanchard, Head of Projects and Partnerships, Young and Well CRC and Honorary Research Fellow, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, Young and Well CRC Director and psychologist in private practice Associate Professor Amanda Third, Principal Research Fellow in Digital Social and Cultural Research, University of Western Sydney Associate Professor Lena Sanci, Deputy Head, Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne Miss Jennifer Morris, Research Officer, Young and Well CRC and Research Assistant, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne (3) What does the study involve? If you are a young person with asthma, aged 12 to 25, who lives in Australia, you are invited to participate in this study. If you choose to participate, you will be asked to complete an online survey which asks about your health and wellbeing. The survey will ask you a series of questions about your asthma control and treatment, as well as your physical and mental health. Demographic and other information about you will also be requested. But you do not have to give any information that could identify you, like your name. (4) How much time will the study take? Completing the survey should take no longer than 30 minutes. (5) Can I withdraw from the study? Being in this study is completely voluntary. You do not have to participate. If you do decide to participate, you are free to withdraw your consent and to end your participation at any time, before you submit your data at the end of the survey. However, your data is collected in de-identified way (we won’t know it is data from you). That means that once your data is submitted at the end of the survey, we are not able to withdraw it from the study. If you decide that you do not want to continue participating in the study, you do not have to give a reason. You can simply close the survey before submitting it. Your decision to participate, or not participate, will in no way impact upon your current or future relationship with the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre (YAWCRC), any of the researchers, or their affiliate organisations. Safe. Healthy. Resilient. (6) Will anyone else know the results? You will be asked if you would like to provide an email address, for the purpose of entering the prize draw. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose. You do not have to provide an email address, or any other identifying information, if you do not want to. If you choose not to provide an email address, you can still complete the survey, and your responses will still be collected. Your email address will be stored separately from your responses, to preserve your anonymity. All other aspects of the study, including results, will be strictly confidential and only the researchers will have access to participant information, unless subject to subpoena or freedom of information request. All data will be stored securely for five years before being destroyed. A report of the study will be submitted for publication, but individual participants will not be identifiable in any way. (7) Will the study benefit me? If you complete the survey, you will be given the option of participating in a prize draw, for the chance to win an iPad or iTunes voucher. Prizes will be allocated at random, from the pool of participants who choose to provide an email address for this purpose. As a result, only some randomly-selected participants will receive a prize. It is also anticipated that the study will contribute to a better understanding of the health and wellbeing of young people with asthma in Australia. It is also anticipated that this information will contribute to a better understanding of how to design the National Young People and Asthma Strategy, and help to evaluate its effectiveness. It is intended that the findings of the study will be made available, for example through academic publications, to help inform public health interventions and other strategies for improving the health and wellbeing of young people with asthma. (8) Are there any risks to me from participating? There is minimal risk associated with your participation in this project. If any of the questions in the survey make you feel distressed, or you feel like you need further help or support, you can contact one of the services listed below. This information will also appear on every page of the survey, with relevant contact details. - Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 (24 hour telephone counselling and referrals) - Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24 hour telephone counselling). - Asthma Assist Line: 1800 278 462 (9:00am – 5:00pm Monday to Friday, for advice and information about asthma) (9) What if I require further information? When you have read this information, the researchers are happy to answer any questions you may have. If you would like to know more at any stage, please contact: Michelle Blanchard Head of Projects and Partnerships, Young and Well CRC Honorary Research Fellow, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, Centre for Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne Phone: 03 9937 1333 Mobile: 0403 171 989 Email: michelle@yawcrc.org.au (10) What if I have a complaint or concerns? Should you have any concerns about the conduct of the project, you are welcome to contact the Executive Officer, Human Research Ethics, The University of Melbourne, on ph: 03 8344 2073, or fax: 03 9347 6739. This information sheet is for you to download and keep Safe. Healthy. Resilient