Online survey investigating the effects of care-giving on levels of self-reported stress and memory function, specifically in carers of stroke survivors

What is the purpose of the project?
This study aims to investigate how caring for a relative who has experienced stroke can lead to stress and potentially affect memory. The effects of care-giver stress have been widely investigated, however, there is a lack of research which solely investigates the stress of caring for stroke patients. Stress can lead to a number of issues; however, self-reported memory is being investigated as when caring for a stroke patient, memory is very important.

Why have I been selected to take part and what are the exclusion criteria?
There are two groups of participants required for this investigation. The first group requires familial carers of stroke patients, over the age of eighteen, who are not carers professionally, and are not currently suffering from long-term psychological or physical conditions. The second group requires participants, again over the age of eighteen, who are simply married or cohabiting with a partner, and do not have any caring responsibilities. As you are the carer of a stroke patient, you have been selected to take part in this investigation.

What will I have to do?
You will be asked to give your consent on an online form to take part, as well as create your own participant code using a combination of numbers and letters. You will be asked to select symptoms, from a list, which the patient experiences, following the stroke, and a list of medication you take, along with your gender, age group and educational level. You will be asked to complete questionnaires, via online forms, in order to take part in this investigation. The questionnaires will measure background stress levels, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and finally memory and prospective memory. Prospective memory is your ability to remember to carry out a task at a later date (e.g. remembering an appointment). If you do not wish to answer any questions, please feel free to omit answers. An electronic debrief will be given, which will fully explain the research, and you will be given the opportunity to provide contact details to find out the results of the research once the investigation has been completed. Information on how you can withdraw your data, if you no longer wish for your data to be used at a later date, will also be given. This study should take an estimated time of 30 minutes.

Will my participation involve any physical discomfort?
Although this study does not require you to carry out any physical tasks, there may be a slight discomfort if you stay at the computer you carry out the study on for a prolonged period. The procedures of this study have been risk-assessed.

Will my participation involve any psychological discomfort or embarrassment?
As the study is investigating stress and anxiety, this may cause some psychological discomfort. As this study is also investigating memory, there is a slight chance you may feel embarrassed that your memory is insufficient or poor. You are free to discontinue your participation in the investigation if you wish. This study has been risk-assessed to ensure participant safety and well-being.

How will confidentiality be assured?
A number of procedures have been put into place to ensure confidentiality in this investigation. The participant code will be formed by you, as discussed, and only this will be used to identify your data. Your data will only be accessed by the researcher and the supervisor Dr Mark Wetherell. Your data will be used and treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Please refer to the statement below for full details of data storage and destruction.

Will I receive any financial rewards / travel expenses for taking part?
No financial rewards are provided for taking part in this investigation.

How can I withdraw from the project?
If you have any issues with the investigation before taking part, please feel free to contact the researcher via email (hannah.hughes@northumbria.ac.uk). You may also contact the researcher if you experience issues whilst taking part, and no longer wish for any data you may have submitted to be used. If for any reason following the investigation, up to data analyses, you are free to withdraw your data by contacting the researcher via the email address given and your data will be withdrawn. Please make a note of your participant code before carrying out the investigation, as this will be used to identify your data if you wish to withdraw.

If I require further information who should I contact and how?
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the researcher using the email address given above, or project supervisor Dr Mark Wetherell (mark.wetherell@northumbria.ac.uk).

If you have any concerns or worries concerning this research or if you wish to register a complaint, please direct it to the Department of Psychology Ethics Chair (Undergraduate) at the address below, or by Email: elizabeth.orme@northumbria.ac.uk.

The data collected in this study will be used for an Undergraduate Psychology Thesis. It may also be published in scientific journals or presented at conferences. Any information and data gathered during this research study will only be available to the research team identified in the information sheet. Should the research be presented or published in any form, all data will be anonymous (i.e. your personal information or data will not be identifiable).

All identifiable paper records will be stored in a locked filing cabinet, accessible only to the research team and all electronic information will be stored on a password-protected computer. All of the information you provide will be treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act. This information will be destroyed 6 months after completion of the project. If the research is published in a scientific journal it may be kept for up to 3 years before being destroyed. During that time the data may be used by members of the research team only for purposes appropriate to the research question, but at no point will your personal information or data be revealed.

This study and its protocol have received full ethical approval from the Department of Psychology Ethics Committee (Undergraduate) in accordance with the School of Life Sciences Ethics Committee. If you require confirmation of this please contact the Chair of this Committee, stating the title of the research project and the name of the researcher:

Dr Libby Orme
Chair of Department of Psychology Ethics Committee (Undergraduate)
Northumberland Building,
Northumbria University,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST
UK

To complete the survey please visit here. Thank you.