VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY
Consent to Take Part in a Research Community
Title: Addiction Recovery Research Center Community, IRB #
Principal Investigator: Warren K. Bickel (540-526-2015, wkbickel@vtc.vt.edu)
Other study contacts: The study team at 540-315-0205 or arrc2@vtc.vt.edu
Key Information: The following is a short summary to help you decide whether or not to be a part of this Research Community. More detailed information is listed later on in this form. This is a short survey that will allow you to be part of the Addiction Recovery Research Center Community (ARRC2) at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. Once you are part of ARRC2, you will be able to access other online assessments and will be compensated for them. The primary purpose of this initial survey is to collect basic demographic information and experiences. This survey will take about 5-10 minutes to complete. Please answer all questions honestly. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential. There are not any direct benefits of participation in this survey, however, your responses will allow us to conduct future assessments, and thus enhance our knowledge about addiction, with the hope of benefiting those who are still working to overcome their addiction. Participation is voluntary and you can stop completing the survey without submitting it at any time.
Detailed Information: The following is more detailed information about this Research Community in addition to the information listed above.
Who can I talk to? If you have questions, concerns, or complaints, or think the survey has hurt you, talk to the research team at 540-315-0205 or arrc2@vtc.vt.edu
This project has been reviewed and approved by the Virginia Tech Institutional Review Board (IRB). You may communicate with them at 540-231-3732 or irb@vt.edu if:
You have questions about your rights as a research subject
Your questions, concerns, or complaints are not being answered by the research team
You cannot reach the research team
You want to talk to someone besides the research team to provide feedback about this research
How many people will be studied?
We plan to include about 5000 people in this community.
What happens if I say yes, I want to be part of this research community?
You will complete a one-session online survey
The initial survey will take 5-10 minutes to complete
The initial survey will ask questions about you and experiences with substance use.
What happens if I say yes, but I change my mind later?
You can leave the survey at any time, for any reason, and it will not be held against you. If you decide to leave the survey, there will be no adverse consequences. If you decide to leave the survey, just stop completing the it without submitting it. Data from incomplete surveys will not be used and, therefore, you will not be compensated.
Is there any way being in this research could be bad for me? (Detailed Risks)
There may be risks such as embarrassment or discomfort associated with completing the online survey as it covers sensitive information including drug use, income, etc. It is possible that some of the survey questions may make you feel uncomfortable or upset. You may choose not to answer any question or take a break at any point during the survey. If you become upset, please tell a member of the study team (see page 1 for contact information). There is also a risk of loss of confidentiality. We will make every effort to protect your privacy and the confidentiality of your information if you decide to take part in the community. Always know that being part of the community is voluntary and you may leave it at any time without penalty.
What happens to the information collected for the community?
We will make every effort to limit the use and disclosure of your personal information and medical records, only to people who have a need to review this information. We cannot promise complete confidentiality. Organizations that may inspect and copy your information include the IRB, Human Research Protection Program, and other authorized representatives of Virginia Tech. If identifiers are removed from your private information, that information could be used for future research studies or distributed to another investigator for future research studies without your additional informed consent.
The results from the studies that you might complete in research community may be presented in summary form at conferences, in presentations, reports to the sponsor, academic papers, and/or as part of a thesis/dissertation.
Can I be removed from the community without my OK? The person in charge of the community or the sponsor can remove you from the community without your approval. Possible reasons for removal include if it is determined to be in your best interest, you do not follow instructions, the community is stopped or ended, or for other administrative reasons. We will tell you about any new information that might affect your health, welfare, or choice to stay in the community.
What else do I need to know? This community is being funded by Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion. Any expenses accrued for seeking or receiving medical or mental health treatment will be your responsibility and not that of the research project, research team, or Virginia Tech.
Please read this carefully as our compensation system has changed:
You will not receive compensation for this recruitment survey. However, you will be compensated for other surveys you take in the future if you agree to be part of the community. Each future survey will have details on compensation.
We will not offer to share your individual results with you. Your consent to participate in this research is implied when you choose to continue with the assessment.
Thank you!
Would you like to continue?