A copy of the consent form from the assessment is provided here for your information.
Consent Form
Interventions to Increase Workplace Wellness Study
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Carolyn Gotay, University of British Columbia. Contact telephone number: 604-827-4022.
Co-Investigators:
Ben Amick, Institute for Work and Health
Kitty Corbett, Simon Fraser University
Sharon Storoschuk, Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon
Research Team:
Melody Monro, University of British Columbia (604-822-2375)
Sue MacPhail, Canadian Cancer Society (604-675-7344)
Sponsor:
Canadian Cancer Society
What is the purpose of this study?
The purpose of this study is to understand how well new programs offered in the workplace help employees to adopt healthier lifestyles. Past research has shown that the workplace is a good way to reach large numbers of people to provide education and support for health promotion.
In this study, the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon (CCS BCY) have teamed up to offer different workplace wellness programs in three worksites in BC and find out how well these programs work. The lifestyle changes we are focusing on are healthy eating, physical activity, and weight control, all of which have been shown to reduce the risks of cancer and other chronic diseases.
You have been asked to participate because the University of the Fraser Valley has agreed to be one of three sites in the program. Each of the three workplaces has been randomly assigned to a different type of wellness program. That means, we determined the program that is offered to each worksite through a process like tossing a coin, where each workplace has an equal chance of receiving each one of the three programs. At the end of the project, we will ask questions to find out how well each program worked.
What are the study procedures?
If you agree to join in the study, you will be asked to complete an online baseline health risk assessment (HRA) form. This is a questionnaire that asks about your diet, height and weight, and physical activity. You will also be asked questions about your role at work, including the kind of job you hold, and how productive you feel at work. We will ask you to answer the same questions again 3, 9, and 12 months later to see how your answers vary over time. It will take approximately 25 minutes to complete the assessments.
Your workplace has been assigned to Wellness Works, a comprehensive workplace project developed by the Canadian Cancer Society British Columbia Yukon.
What are the risks or discomforts?
There are no known risks to participating in any of the workplace wellness programs. The assessment forms ask you to provide information about yourself.
What are the benefits?
Participating in the workplace wellness program could decrease your cancer risk through healthy eating, physical activity and a healthy body weight. Your participation will help us to learn which programs work the best, and that information will be helpful for future initiatives.
Confidentiality.
Your identity will be kept confidential, and only the study researchers and research team will have access to your information. All questionnaires and other study materials will be identified only by a code number and kept in a locked filing cabinet or in password protected computer files. If you take part in the email-delivered program, all the email messages are encrypted and no one outside of you can see the communication. All published reports will include only data combined from all the participants and not your name or other identifying information. Please note that research records identifying you may be inspected in the presence of the investigator or her designate or by representatives of the UBC Research Ethics Board for the purpose of monitoring the research.
Data Storage:
This online survey company is hosted by a websurvey company located in the USA and as such is subject to U.S. laws. In particular, the US Patriot Act which allows authorities access to the records of internet service providers. This survey or questionnaire does not ask for personal identifiers or any information that may be used to identify you. If you choose to participate in the survey, you understand that your responses to the survey questions will be gathered in the US for one year, the information will not be stored in the US, it will be sent to UBC and then erased.
Is your participation voluntary?
Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary and you may refuse to participate or withdraw from the study at any time. (Contact helpdesk@bewellatwork.nutritionquest.com to disenroll) without jeopardy to your employment.
Who can you contact for information about the study?
If you have any questions or desire further information about the study you may contact Dr. Carolyn Gotay at carolyn.gotay@ubc.ca or 604-827-4022, or Associate Vice-President of Research and Graduate Studies at UFV, Yvon Dandurand, at yvon.dandurand@ufv.ca or (604) 864-4654. If you have any concerns about your treatment or rights as a research subject, you may contact the Research Subject Information Line in the UBC Office of Research Services at 604-822-8598.
Where can you get information about the study?
When the study is complete, you will be invited to a public forum. This forum will give a presentation of the study findings, a demonstration of the materials used at the each of the work sites, and a discussion of the findings and next steps. The presentation will also be available by power point/ audio conferencing and the final report will also be available on the CCS BCY and UBC websites.
Consent to participate.
This study has been explained to me. By completing the assessment online and pressing the submit button I agree to take part in this research. I have had a chance to ask questions. I know I can ask the researchers later on if I have questions about the research or about my rights as described above.
