Page 1

Ulster University logo, SHAPES project logo

Participant Information Sheet

Title of Project: User Acceptance and Inclusion, and the Societal Impact of Digital Health Technologies

Thank you for your interest in participating in this study. Before you decide to take part, it is important that you understand what the research is for and what you will be asked to do. Please read the following information and do not hesitate to ask any questions about anything that might not be clear to you. Make sure that you are happy before you decide what to do. Thank you for taking the time to consider this invitation.

What is the purpose of this study?
The purpose of this study is to identify factors that may influence whether citizens and healthcare professionals will accept digital health technologies. This includes factors related to the usage intentions of the user, the usability of the digital health technologies, and the features of healthcare systems.

Do I have to take part?
It is up to you to decide whether or not to take part. If you decide to take part, you will be asked to complete a consent form. If you choose to take part, you can change your mind at any time and withdraw from the study without giving a reason. 

What do I have to do?
To take part in this study you are invited to complete an online survey that focuses on factors that can influence whether citizens are willing to accept digital health technologies. The survey has two sections. The first section will ask you to enter some information about yourself. The second section contains the survey questions. The survey includes four digital story videos that describe older people’s experiences of chronic health conditions. The video illustrates how digital health technologies could be used to assist with health management. A text description of the story is also available. Several questions are presented for each story that ask your opinions on the technologies described. The survey will take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete. 

Please note that your responses will not be submitted until you click the Finish button on the last page.  

Can I leave the survey part way through and return to it later?
Yes, the survey has a Finish later option at the bottom of each page. When you click this option you will be given a URL that you can use to return to the survey, and a survey closing date. 

Please note that your responses will not be submitted until you click the Finish button on the last page.  

Risks and/or disadvantages?
There are no risks associated with taking part. However, if you feel uncomfortable with any aspect of the survey you can exit the survey at any stage.

What will happen to my data?
All collected data will be stored securely and confidentially on a password protected and encrypted server. All data will be stored at Ulster University for a minimum of 10 years in accordance with GDPR regulations. The data may be used in research publications and/or presentations relating to the project and may also be used in future research.

Will my taking part in this study be kept confidential?
All the data that you provide will be stored securely and in confidence. Only the university staff that are investigators in this study will have access to your data.

Can I withdraw from the study?
Taking part in the study is voluntary. If you complete the survey and then change your mind you are free to withdraw at any time without giving a reason. 

How do I withdraw from the study?
On the last page of the survey you will be given a unique code that can be used to withdraw your data from the study. Please take a copy of this code. If you wish to withdraw from the study contact the chief investigator and state your code. The contact details of the chief investigator are below. Please note that your code cannot be used to personally identify you and is used only to delete your data from the study. 

Who has reviewed this study? 
This study has been reviewed by the Faculty of Computing and Engineering Research Ethics Filter Committee to ensure the study meets the university's research governance requirements. 

Who is organising and funding the research?
This research is supported by the SHAPES project. SHAPES - Smart and Healthy Ageing through People Engaging in Supportive Systems - is funded by the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme of the European Union for Research Innovation. Grant agreement number: 857159-SHAPES-H2020-SC1-FA-DTS-2018-2020.

Contact Details

Chief investigator: Professor Dewar Finlay
  School of Engineering
  Ulster University, Belfast Campus
  2-24 York Street
  Belfast
  BT15 1AP
  Email: d.finlay@ulster.ac.uk