Intention to Use Antibiotics

Questions marked with a * are required

Dr Cassandra Gauld

School of Psychological Sciences

University of Newcastle

McMullin Lane, Callaghan

Phone number: (02) 4055 3046

Email: cass.gauld@newcastle.edu.au

Regarding Research Project:
Patients’ Intention to Use Antibiotics
Document version 7 dated 18/04/23

Dear potential research participant,

You are invited to participate in the research project noted above which is being conducted by researchers from The University of Newcastle.
The information below provides more detail about the study and how you can participate if you choose to do so.

What is the research study about?
The purpose of the research is to identify key characteristics of patients who intend to use antibiotics. Antibiotic overuse is a significant health issue as it may lead to the evolution of new antibiotic resistant strains, which is a major problem facing society today. An understanding of these patient characteristics is important and will be used to guide public education message content and design in future research aimed at reducing this risky behaviour.
Who is conducting the research?
This research is being conducted by researchers from The University of Newcastle’s School of Psychological Sciences (Dr Cassandra Gauld and Ms Caitlin Reeves), School of Environmental and Life Sciences (Associate Professor Karl Hassan and Professor Peter Lewis), and School of Creative Industries (Dr Ben Matthews).
Who can participate in the research?
This research study is recruiting people living in Australia who are aged over 18 years of age who have visited the doctor at least once in the past 2 years.
What does participation involve?
If you agree to participate, you will be invited to complete an online anonymous survey which will take around 15 minutes to complete. The survey will include questions about your intention (e.g., ‘I intend to use antibiotics (if I become ill) in the next 2 years), your attitude (e.g., For me, using antibiotics (if I become ill) in the next 2 years will be… e.g., good – bad), and perception of others’ approval (e.g., 'My partner would approve of me using antibiotics in the next 2 years). It will also include demographic items (e.g., age, gender) and past behaviour (e.g., how often in the past 2 years have you taken a course of antibiotics?). At the end of the survey, you will be invited to enter the draw to win one of eight $50 shopping vouchers. Instead of entering the prize draw, participants taking part through the University of Newcastle’s SONA system will be awarded 1 point course credit at the end of Survey 2.
Do you have to take part in this research study?
No. Participation in this research study is entirely voluntary. If you do not want to take part, you do not have to. And, if you do agree to participate, you can withdraw from the research study at any time before the survey is submitted without giving a reason.
What is the benefit of participating in this research study?
By participating in this survey study, you will have the opportunity to help the research team identify characteristics of patients who are likely to use antibiotics. This information will subsequently be used to develop public education messages aimed at reducing the prevalence of antibiotic usage. Minimising antibiotic usage will help reduce the rate at which resistance will arise within a population. This will benefit society through ensuring a supply of useful antibiotics for when they are really needed.
Are there any risks associated with your participation in this research?
There are minimal risks associated with your participation in this project. Although unlikely, it is possible that the study may invoke concerns in some potential participants in relation to antibiotic overuse. If this may be you, we ask that you consider whether or not you are comfortable with participating in this study.
Should you find any of the questions upsetting, you can stop your participation at any time prior to submission of the survey without penalty. You may also wish to speak to your GP about concerns you may have about your antibiotic usage. Alternatively, you can also contact Lifeline’s free national counselling service at 13 11 14, or BeyondBlue at 1300 224636 should you need support regarding any of the issues raised in the survey.
How will your privacy be protected?
Survey data will be collected on the QuestionPro survey development platform. Here is a link to their privacy policy: https://www.questionpro.com/help/privacy-policy.html>
Survey data is anonymous and will be retained securely for a minimum period of five years from the completion of the research project. Information will be managed and stored in accordance with the University’s Research Data and Materials Management Guideline or any successor Guideline as well as any other applicable University of Newcastle policy provisions.
The survey data will be stored electronically in the University of Newcastle's cloud (both during data collection phase and the long-term storage). The management of the research data will be consistent with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (ACRCR, 2007). The research data will be stored in a form that is anonymous and not personally identifiable to the researchers.
Dr Cassandra Gauld and her research assistant will have direct access to the stored data. The other named researchers on the project will also have access to the stored data, if requested.
How will information collected by the research team be used?
The information will be collated and analysed and may be presented in academic publications, at conferences, or in journal articles. Given the anonymous nature of the survey, individual participants will not be identifiable in any way.
Anonymous data may be shared with other parties as part of a peer-review process to verify the robustness and integrity of the study, or to contribute to further research and public knowledge.
If you would like a copy of the summary of the results when they are available, you will be invited to provide your email address at the end of the survey.
What you need to do to provide consent to participate?
Read this Information Statement in its entirety and be sure you understand all of the information provided before agreeing to participate.
If there is anything you do not understand, or if you have questions, contact Dr Cassandra Gauld using the contact details provided on page one of this information statement.
If you decide to participate, please check the ‘yes’ box at the end of this information statement.
What if you want to withdraw from the research study?
Due to the anonymous nature of the survey, you can only withdraw from the study prior to submitting a completed survey. Your responses will not be identifiable for the purposes of withdrawal after the survey has been submitted.
Your decision not to participate or to withdraw from the study will not affect your relationship with the University of Newcastle or any of the other organisations involved in this research.
Do you need more information?
If you would like more information about this research project and your potential involvement, please contact Caitlin Reeves (caitlin.reeves@newcastle.edu.au) or Dr Cassandra Gauld (cass.gauld@newcastle.edu.au).

Thank you for your time and consideration of this information,

Dr Cassandra Gauld
Lecturer
University of Newcastle

Concerns or complaints about this research
This project has been approved by the University of Newcastle’s Human Research Ethics Committee, Approval No. H-2022-0144
If you have concerns about your rights as a participant in this research, or if you have a complaint about the manner in which the research is conducted, please contact the Chief Investigator, Dr Cassandra Gauld.
If you would prefer to contact someone independent of the research project, you can forward your concerns to:

Human Research Ethics Officer
Research and Innovation Services
University of Newcastle
University Drive
Callaghan NSW 2308, Australia
Phone: (02) 4921 6333
Email: Human-Ethics@newcastle.edu.au

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