Online Informed Consent Form
You are one of approximately 6500 Pennsylvania National Guard and Reservists invited to participate in a three- year research study, titled Combat Stress Intervention Program (CSIP) to get your opinion on the level of stress you may be experiencing after deployment and actual or potential barriers to receiving mental health care. We know that combat affects the psychological health of many. Even if so far you haven't experienced these effects, the answers you provide will help us to better understand and serve those who are dealing with combat-related stress. The US Department of Defense and communities across the country are starting to pay more and more attention to the physical and mental health care needs of returning Reserve and National Guard personnel. As one of those returning veterans, your participation in this survey is a critical way to learn how to best address these needs. You yourself may not feel that you need these services, but you almost certainly know people who do. You can help us work with military and community leaders to find better ways to assist the men and women who have chosen to protect our country by serving in the Guard and the Reserve.
We will ask you to complete the survey which takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Directions for completing the survey will be found on the following screens. Your response will be anonymous. We will ask certain questions which will let us know that you have answered the survey this year and if we do a follow up and you are invited to participate again. Responses will be collected by a web server and combined and you will not be identified in any way. If we publish or present any of the survey results, no participants will be identified. All information will be removed from the web server at the completion of this portion of the study, which will last approximately 6 months.
No potential risks are anticipated due to participation in this study. Some irritation related to interaction with the online survey technology may occur. In that case, please advise us what the problem is so that we may fix it. There will be a place in the survey to provide this important information.
Your participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You may decide not to participate in all or part of the survey. That is entirely your choice. Your pressing of the "I Agree" button at the end of this screen indicates your consent to participate.
If you have any questions about this study, you may contact CSIP at 724-503-1001 x 3401. Any questions about the rights of human subjects may be directed to the Memorial Medical Center Institutional Review Board at 814-534-1639. Your opinion is very important to us.
Thank you for your participation and support of this study. Please click the "I Agree to Participate" button below to agree and proceed with completing the survey. You will be redirected to a webpage which asks you to enter a password. Please enter the password from the label attached to the hard copy of the Informed Consent Form you received in the mail. If for some reason you experience trouble with the online survey you may re-enter your password to continue the survey.
I agree to participate in the survey.