Title of project: People’s use and views of online health advice

Principal Investigator: Phoenix Mo
Department of Psychology, Northumbria University, UK
Investigator contact details: email: [email protected]

If you have taken part in this study before but did not complete all sections and need to finish doing so please enter your participant code here to continue

What is the purpose of the project?

The aim of the study is to examine people‘s attitudes towards online health advice. We are interested to understand why people decide to use the Internet for health advice or conversely why people decide not to use the Internet for this purpose. As an Internet user we would be interested in your opinions and experiences. We are interested in the opinions of Internet users who have looked online for health advice AND people who have not used the Internet for this purpose. You must be aged 16 or over to take part.

What will I have to do?

You will be asked to give informed consent for participating in the study, and you will be allocated a participant code which will be used for any future reference for the study. You will then be asked to answer a series of questions relating to online health advice, this should take about 15 minutes. The majority of the questions require simple tick box answers. You will NOT be asked to provide your name or contact details and as such all your responses will be anonymous. Participation in this research does not involve any physical discomfort or psychological discomfort or embarrassment.

How will confidentiality be assured?

The research team has put into place a number of procedures to protect the confidentiality of participants. You will be allocated a participant code/password that will always be used to identify any data that you provide. Your name or other personal details will not be associated with your data. All electronic information will be stored on a password-protected computer, accessible only by the research team. Any information and data gathered during this research study will only be available to the research team identified in the information sheet. Should the research be presented or published in any form, all data will be anonymous (i.e. Your personal information or data will not be identifiable).
All information and data gathered during this research will be stored in line with the Data Protection Act and will be destroyed five years following the conclusion of the study. During that time the data may be used by members of the research team only for purposes appropriate to the research question, but at no point will your personal information or data be revealed. Insurance companies and employers will not be given any individual’s information, samples, or test results, and nor will we allow access to the police, security services, social services, relatives or lawyers, unless forced to do so by the courts.

Has this investigation received appropriate ethical clearance?

Yes, the study and its protocol have received full ethical approval from the School of Life Sciences Ethics Committee. If you require confirmation of this please contact the Chair of this Committee, stating the title of the research project and the name of the principal investigator.
Chair of Life Sciences Ethics Committee
Northumberland Building,
Northumbria University,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 8ST

How can I withdraw from the project?

During the study itself, if you do decide that you do not wish to take any further part then please leave the website. Any personal information or data that you have will be deleted as soon as possible. After you have completed the research you can still withdraw your personal information/ data by contacting one of the members in the research team and giving them your participant code. Any information or data that you have provided will be destroyed as soon as possible.

If I require further information who should I contact and how?

You can contact the principle researcher Phoenix Mo via e-mail: [email protected]

If this is the first time that you are taking part in this study, please click below to begin the study and confirm that:

• I have read and understood the participant information provided above.
• I understand I am free to withdraw from the study at any time, without having to give a reason for withdrawing, and without prejudice.
• I agree to take part in the study.