Step 1: Consent / Terms of Service

This informed consent / Terms of Service form describes the study and tells you what you can expect if you choose to become a participant. Please read it carefully before consenting at the end.

You are invited to participate in a focus group study being conducted by the HeadsUp Research Lab at Loyola Marymount University. This study is sponsored by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. This informed consent form describes the study and tells you what you can expect if you become a participant. Please read it carefully before checking any of the boxes at the end.

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH:

The purpose of this project is to test the functionality of a new text message-based program for parents of first-year LMU students, Digitally Prompted Parenting (DPP). The aim of the project is to identify technical issues with the program and barriers to successful engagement with DPP that can be corrected before a large-scale test of the program. Participation in this research is entirely voluntary.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF PARTICIPANTS:

Participation in this study involves creating an account for DPP, being sent text messages for 7 days, and completing an online feedback survey on the 8th day after signing up for DPP. Please note that you must create an account within 12 hours of completing this informed consent form to participate in the study. Signing up for DPP involves providing basic demographic information about yourself, answering a few questions about your attitudes toward alcohol use, verifying your mobile phone number, and indicating times in which you are most likely to see and respond to text messages. This process should take approximately 10 minutes. During the 7-day testing period, you may receive 3-4 text messages over the entire period. Each text messages will include a question and a message that is intended to be sent to your student. However, given that this is only a functionality testing study, we ask that you please respond to the question, but then refrain from sending any of the recommended messages to your student. Interacting with each of these text messages should take approximately 3 minutes. The feedback survey you will receive on day 8 will include a series of questions about your experience with DPP, things that you believe can be improved about the program, and any technical issues you experienced. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Upon all components of this study you will receive $100 electronic gift card via email.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

The research team will ask you for your name, email, and phone number. Your name and email will be used to send you a gift card for your participation. Your phone number will be used to automatically send you text messages encouraging you to communicate with your first-year student. All names, email addresses, and phone numbers will be kept in a file apart from any responses you provide on the DPP web platform, via text, or in the feedback survey. That is, any information you share will not be linked to your person in records kept by the research team.

To help keep your information confidential, the current project has obtained a Certificate of Confidentiality from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This Certificate does not imply that the DHHS or the National Institutes of Health approves or disapproves of the project. The Certificate will protect the investigators from being forced, even under a court order or subpoena, to release information that could identify you. Despite the presence of the Certificate of Confidentiality, you are responsible for actively maintaining your confidentiality as a participant in this project. A Certificate of Confidentiality does not prevent you from voluntarily releasing information about yourself or your involvement in this study.

VOLUNTARY NATURE OF PARTICIPATION:

Participation in this research is entirely voluntary. You may choose not to participate in the study without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are entitled.

INCENTIVES:

Upon completion of the study, you will receive a $100 electronic gift card to thank you for your time.

POTENTIAL RISKS/BENEFITS:

Risks associated with study participation are related to the sensitive nature of some of the messages you may receive via text. You will be prompted to discuss alcohol use with your student, which may lead to uncomfortable conversations between you and your child. You are not required to send any text message to your student they you not feel comfortable sending. A decision by you not to participate in the study or to discontinue your participation will in no way jeopardize your eligibility for any services or benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. Your participation will provide useful information that will help to improve DPP before a large-scale test of the program.

CONTACT:

Dr. Bradley Trager can be reached at UNH 4711 on the campus of Loyola Marymount University, office phone number (310) 568-6127, bradley.trager@lmu.edu, if you have any questions or concerns about your participation in this study. If you have questions regarding your rights as a research subject, you may contact Dr. Stephen Heller, Chair of the Human Subjects Review Committee by phone at (310) 338-7348, or email irb@lmu.edu.