COVID-19 healthcare equity, access and regional racisms
Research team:
Professor Julian Grant, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, Charles Sturt University
Dr Jessica Biles, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health, Charles Sturt University
Dr Aryati Yashadhana, Research Fellow, School of Public Health & Community Medicine, UNSW
Contact: Professor Julian Grant P: 0408 348 738 E: jugrant@csu.edu.au
Invitation
You are invited to participate in a research study which is focussed on your experiences during the COVID 19 pandemic. We would like to invite you to talk with a researcher one-on-one or in a small group about how you have been impacted by COVID-19, including how you have experienced social distancing and possible racism related to this pandemic.
Before you decide whether you wish to participate in this study, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take the time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish.
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1. What is the purpose of this study?
This study will describe the experiences of people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researchers are interested to hear about how the social distancing and other life changes due to COVID-19 restrictions have affected you, including experiences of racisms due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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2. Why have I been invited to participate in this study?
If you have seen the advertisement for this study and identify as someone who is culturally and/or linguistically diverse, the researchers would like to hear about your unique experiences. This is so you can share your story about how COVID-19 has affected you, which is different for everyone.
3. What does this study involve?
Participating in this study involves talking with a researcher one-on-one or in a small group about your experiences. The interviews will be conducted using an online platform or over the phone and will be voice recorded.
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4. Are there risks to me in taking part in this study?
It is possible that talking about COVID-19 might mean that you become upset or worried. It is also possible that talking about racism might bring up many emotions. We will try to make the interview or focus group as comfortable as possible. You can pause or stop the interview at any time. You don’t have to keep going if you are sad or upset. You can also contact lifeline on 131114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ if you would like to speak with someone about your feelings.
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5. Will I benefit from the study?
This study aims to provide information about how people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have been affected by COVID-19 and if they have experienced racism due to the current pandemic. Although you may not directly benefit from the results of the study, the findings will be used to inform policy in the future and may help other people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
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6. How is this study being paid for?
This study received a grant by Charles Sturt University for research into issues about COVID-19. The researchers work in the University and are paid to do research.
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7. Will taking part in this study cost me anything, and will I be paid?
Participation in this study will not cost you anything and you will not be paid to participate.
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8. What if I don't want to take part in this study?
Participation in this study is voluntary. It is completely up to you whether you participate. Your decision to participate or not, will not affect current or future healthcare delivery or any other services from other organisations that you are involved in.
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9. What if I participate and then change my mind and want to withdraw later?
Interviews (talking one-on-one): You can withdraw from the interview at any time even if the interview has started. You don’t have to tell us why. If you attend the interview but later decide to withdraw you can contact Julian Grant on jugrant@csu.edu.au and request your data be removed from the study. We can do this for up to two weeks after the interview. If this happens we will destroy your interview recording and transcript. After this time the researchers will have already used your data for analysis but there will be no information kept that can identify you.
Focus groups (talking in a group): You can withdraw from the focus group at any time. Even if you have arrived for the focus group you can leave at any time. Once you participate in the focus group the researchers will not be able to remove your data but any information that can identify you will be destroyed. Confidentiality of focus groups will be encouraged but it cannot be guaranteed by the researchers given the nature of such groups
10. How will my confidentiality be protected?
All of your personal details collected during the study will remain confidential and will not be given to anyone else unless we ask you for permission. The only exception to this is if we are required to by law. Only the researchers employed at CSU will be able to access to your details. The results of the study will be held securely on CSU password protected computers for five years. After this time all information that has been collected will be destroyed.
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11. What happens with the results?
The research team will work with Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA) researchers to analyse the data. This will mean that de-identified data will be discussed during the process of collaborative data analysis. FECCA will not have access to raw data sets. The results of the research will be prepared for publications and presentations for community and other academic audiences. You will not be personally identified in any of these publications or presentations.
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12. What should I do if I want to discuss this study further before I decide?
When you have read this information, you can ask further questions by contacting Julian Grant at jugrant@csu.edu.au or 0408 348 738. If you would like to take part in the study please click here. On this page you will be asked to consent to be involved in the study and to let us know if you’d like to have an interview or join a focus group.
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13. Who should I contact if I have concerns about the conduct of this study?
This study has been approved by Charles Sturt University Human Research Ethics Committee [H20198]. If you have concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study please contact:
The Governance Officer
Human Research Ethics Committee
Ethics and Compliance Unit
Locked Bag 588
Wagga Wagga NSW 2678
Te: (02) 6933 4213
Email: ethics@csu.edu.au
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