WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE

People choose to take part in our research for many reasons. 

Some volunteer because they realize that their participation has the power to advance medical science and benefit the health of patients worldwide. Others do it to gain access to information or treatments for specific conditions that affect their lives, or the lives of family members. No matter what your reasons are, volunteering in research is a personal decision, and it's your choice to decide if participation is right for you. 

Here at the Stress and Health Research Program, we believe that education comes before participation. This all means that when you call any of the numbers or use any of the email addresses on this site, you can expect that you and your information will be respected and protected. As you dial the study phone number or type out an email address, you can know that you are taking part in a tradition of curiosity and discovery that ultimately benefits all of society. On this page, you'll find the information and resources you need to make the best choice about volunteering in research. 

WHAT TO EXPECT

Every study conducted by the Stress and Health Research Program involves different procedures and questions but they all follow a similar structure once you contact us:

  1. We will schedule a short phone conversation with you to tell you more about the research study, answer any questions that you may have, and also ask you some basic questions to determine if you might be a match for a study.
  2. If the phone conversation indicates that you might be eligible for the study, you may be scheduled for another phone screen or an in-person meeting with the study coordinator who will tell you more about the study and help you make an informed decision about whether or not to participate in the study.
  3. If we determine you may be a match and you decide to move forward with a study and provide informed consent you will then go through screenings which will depend on the study’s specific criteria.
  4. If you meet all enrollment requirements, you will move to the main portion of the study.

MAINTAINING PRIVACY AND SAFETY

Starting with this basic phone screening, participants are asked to answer questions and give information about themselves to the research team. The staff of the Stress and Health Research Program is committed, both ethically and legally, to protect any information that an individual volunteers with a high level of security. The research team protects all of a participant’s information even to the point that any measurements or therapy notes taken during a study are stored separate from a participant’s name, under a coded number. Confidentiality and privacy are of great importance to the Research Program.

Safety is also of great importance. A board of experts and community members that is separate from the research team approves every study. This review board gives advice and raises questions about any aspects of the study that might possibly be unsafe. Interested individuals are always informed in detail about all known possible risks before they are asked to make a decision to participate. In addition, if unknown risks come up during a study, participants are informed, given the option to stop taking part in the study, and given any treatment necessary for the risk.