Teachers College, Columbia University
New York, New York
INFORMED CONSENT
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH: As a pre-doctoral fellow with the Research Group on Disparities in Health within the Department of Health and Behavior Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University, in New York, New York, I am working with my sponsor on this study. We are evaluating standard and enhanced Boot Camp models designed to increase physical activity in participants. The standard model we are evaluating is called the Belin Challenge Fitness Boot Camp, while the new enhanced model with a faith-based component added on is called the One Cross Fitness Faith-Based Boot Camp. We are inviting participants to join the study if they have already registered for a Fitness Boot Camp. Agreeing to participate in the study means that, although you already registered for one of the two types of Boot Camps, you are now willing to be randomly assigned to actually participate in EITHER the standard Belin Challenge Fitness Boot Camp OR the new One Cross Fitness Faith-Based Boot Camp.
Participation in the evaluation study involves you: 1) responding to an e-mail invitation and accepting being randomly assigned to either the standard Belin Challenge Fitness Boot Camp or the new One Cross Fitness Faith-Based Boot Camp (with each Fitness Boot Camp option located in either the same building or in a nearby neighborhood location); 2) receiving your random assignment information (i.e. type of Boot Camp you were assigned to and the location of the Boot Camp) via e-mail (to which you offer confirmation of acceptance or rejection), along with the link for completing online an anonymous survey before starting the Boot Camp (approximately 20-25 minutes to complete); 3) receiving an e-mail with the link for completing online an anonymous survey after completing the Boot Camp (approximately 20-25 minutes to complete).
The study will allow us to evaluate the two Fitness Boot Camp models. We will compare the data we collect for each of the two models, and determine if there are any benefits from adding a faith-based component. Study participants do not have to inform others (e.g. the Fitness Boot Camp trainers or the peers with whom they exercise) of their participation in the online evaluation of the Boot Camp experience. Study participants will likely be exercising with others who are not a part of the online evaluation study. If a study participant changes their mind and chooses to no longer be a part of the online evaluation study, this will have no impact upon their ongoing participation in the Boot Camp. Trainers will not know whether a participant in the boot camp is also a participant in the online evaluation.
RISK AND BENEFITS: There are no anticipated risks to participants in this study. However, some participants might experience some emotional pain, sadness, or stress thinking about the challenges of engaging in physical fitness activities, losing weight, or changing one’s eating or food preparation behavior. Although, we would encourage study completion, a participant can discontinue participation in this study at any time. Simply click “end/exit” to exit the study’s survey, or you may stop attending the Boot Camp at any time. Any participant who becomes upset can pursue help, as follows, as an Internet user: conduct a search via Google.com by entering “free online counseling” (e.g., http://www.myshrink.com/online-crisis-counseling-t.php and access support 24 hours a day/seven days a week from a trained professional volunteer; or, http://www.psychresources.net/ to access online counseling resources; or, http://www.mytherapycouch.com/free_online_therapy/ to receive free online therapy with a qualified professional). Again, we do not think that study participation will trigger so much pain that this is necessary, but we offer these suggestions as a precaution.
PAYMENTS: There are no payments associated with participating in this study. However, if a participants completes the before Boot Camp and after Boot Camp surveys, then they will enjoy a chance (1 in 6) of being one of the 10 winners of a scholarship for use in ANOTHER Fitness Boot Camp—whether for personal use by you, or a gift you can give to someone else. A program will automatically send out these gift scholarships to 10 randomly chosen e-mail accounts without in any way linking your identity to the survey results.
DATA STORAGE TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY: Since this is an online survey, actual names, addresses and phone numbers are not needed, and only aggregate (group) data will be utilized. The designers of the website have taken steps to ensure that all data will remain secure, private and confidential.
TIME INVOLVEMENT: The pre-Boot Camp online survey will take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete. After completion of the Boot Camp, there is a post-Boot Camp survey that will take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete.
HOW RESULTS WILL BE USED: The results of the study will be used mainly for the purpose of health education, specifically, to share with other adults the evaluation findings of the Fitness Boot Camp—whether the standard version or enhanced version with a faith-based component. This information will also be used as part of dissertation data for the researchers’ doctorate degree in health education. The data will be presented at health education meetings, published in journals and used for other educational purposes.
Thanks for your participation!
Patricia Lopez
(Ed.D. Candidate, Teachers College, Columbia University)
pal2108@columbia.edu