Principal Investigator	Dr Tamina Levy
Associate Investigator(s)	Jade Glascott Jacqui Wheatcroft Professor Natasha Lannin
A survey of evidence-based practice and clinical decision making for upper limb rehabilitation in traumatic brain injury among Australian allied health clinicians

1          Introduction

You are invited to take part in this research project. The research study aims to better understand current upper limb rehabilitation provided to adults after traumatic brain injury in Australia, and explore clinical decision making of allied health clinicians, as well as the barriers and facilitators they experience when providing upper limb rehabilitation.

This Participant Information sheet tells you about the research project. It explains the processes involved with taking part. Knowing what is involved will help you decide if you want to take part in the research.

Please read this information carefully. Participation in this research is voluntary. If you don’t wish to take part, you don’t have to.

If you decide you want to take part in the research project, please proceed by completing the survey. By completing the survey, you are telling us that you:
• Understand what you have read
• Consent to take part in the research project
• Consent to the use of your personal /health information as described.

2          What is the purpose of this research?

After traumatic brain injury, many people experience upper limb impairments which impact on an individual’s ability to engage in important everyday tasks such as getting dressed, cooking, driving, and returning to work and/or school. Allied health clinicians (occupational therapists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and others) provide rehabilitation to improve movement and upper limb use after traumatic brain injury. However, it is not yet known if there are clinical protocols or work instructions to assist clinicians to provide best-practice rehabilitation.

This project therefore aims to understand the clinical practices for upper limb rehabilitation after brain injury in Australian allied health clinicians.

Study results will provide information about routine practices across Australia from the perspective of clinicians. These findings may inform future research within traumatic brain injury rehabilitation, including knowledge translation activities (i.e., supporting implementation of evidence-based practice).

3            What does participation in this research involve?

Before you decide to participate in this research study, we need to ensure that it is ok for you to take part. The research study is looking to recruit people who meet the following criteria:
• Based in Australia
• Allied health clinician, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, allied health assistants
• Currently provide, or have provided in the past 5 years, rehabilitation to adults after traumatic brain injury

If you decide to take part in the research study, we will ask you to complete an online survey. The survey will ask you questions about how you decide what upper limb therapy to provide, when to commence therapy, and what factors may influence your decision making. It should take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. There is no follow up.

Once you complete the survey, your response data will be sent to the researchers anonymously. We are collecting survey responses from across Australia; all data will remain anonymous and it will not be possible to identify clinicians from responses. This research project has been designed to make sure the researchers interpret the results in a fair and appropriate way and avoids study researchers or participants jumping to conclusions.

4          Other relevant information about the research project

There are no costs associated with participating in this research project, nor will you be paid.

5          Do I have to take part in this research project?

Participation in any research project is voluntary. If you do not wish to take part, you do not have to. Your decision whether to take part or not to take part, will not affect your relationship with the research team.

6          What are the possible benefits of taking part?

We cannot guarantee or promise that you will receive any benefits from this research, however we hope to use information we get from this research study to benefit other allied health clinicians who work with adults after traumatic brain injury.

7          What are the possible risks and disadvantages of taking part?

We do not perceive that there will be any risks to you from participating in this anonymous survey. If you have any concerns regarding anticipated or actual risks or discomforts, please raise them with a member of the research team.

8          What if I withdraw from this research project?

If you do consent to participate, you may withdraw at any time. You can do this by closing the questionnaire. If you withdraw from the research, we will destroy any information that has already been collected. Once you have submitted the questionnaire however, we will not be able to withdraw your responses as the questionnaire is anonymous.

9          What happens when the research project ends?

The research team intend to publish and report the results of the research. All information will be published in a way that will not identify you.

If you would like to receive a copy of the results you can let the research team know by inserting your email at the end of the survey. We will only use these details to send you the results of the research.

10        What will happen to information about me?

Your information will only be used for the purpose of this research project and it will only be disclosed with your permission, except as required by law. All information will be kept for 7 years.

The personal information that the research team collect and use is information from the survey, including your professional background and experience, and your beliefs about upper limb rehabilitation. Any identifying information recorded in the free-text areas of the survey will be removed prior to data entry.

11        Complaints and compensation

If you suffer any distress as a result of completing this survey, you should contact the research team as soon as possible.  You will be assisted with arranging appropriate support.

12        Who is organising and funding the research?

The study is being carried out by researchers from Flinders University (Dr Tamina Levy and Ms Jade Glascott), Alfred Health (Jacqui Wheatcroft) and Monash University (Professor Natasha Lannin).
 
The results of this survey will also be used by the researcher Jade Glascott to obtain a Masters of Clinical Rehabilitation (Neurological Occupational Therapy) degree.

13        Who has reviewed the research project?
                       
The ethical aspects of this research project have been approved by the HREC of Flinders University (Project ID: 6307). This project will be carried out according to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007).

14        Further information and who to contact

The person you may need to contact will depend on the nature of your query. If you require further information regarding this study or if you have any problems which may be related to your involvement in the study, you can contact the following member/s of the research team:

   Research contact person   

Name	Dr Tamina Levy
Position	Principal Investigator
Telephone	08 8201 5988
Email	tamina.levy@flinders.edu.au

What if I have a complaint or any concerns about the research study?
If you have a complaint regarding any aspect of the study or the way it is being conducted, please contact the Flinders University Human Ethics Coordinator:

Complaints contact person

Position	Human Research Ethics Coordinator
Telephone	08 8201 2255
Email	human.researchethics@flinders.edu.au

 

Declaration by the participant

By checking the yes questionnaire option below:
• I understand I am being asked to provide consent to participate in this research study;
• I have read the Participant Information Sheet,
• I provide my consent for the information collected about me to be used for the purpose of this research study only.
• I understand that if necessary, I can ask questions and the research team will respond to my questions.
• I freely agree to participate in this research study as described and understand that I am free to withdraw at any time during the study and withdrawal will not affect my relationship with any of the named organisations and/or research team members;
• I understand that I can download a copy of this consent form from HERE

If you would like to receive a copy of the study results by email or post, please notify the Principal Investigator Tamina Levy via email (tamina.levy@flinders.edu.au) or phone (08 8201 5988).