If you decide to be part of this study, your participation will involve:
· Consenting to be interviewed by way of an exchange of e-mails.
· This will consist of 3-4 e-mail exchanges over a timescale to suit (and/or a telephone interview if this is preferred)
· The interview will focus upon your personal experiences of weight loss management practices in the UK, both past and present.
· You will be encouraged to identify themes that are of interest to you.
· The e-mail interview will be saved anonymously for future reference for the academic purposes as described below.
The following procedures will be followed in order to keep your personal information confidential:
· To protect your confidentiality, your name will not appear in any publications. You will be assigned a pseudonym (a fake name) that will be used instead of your real name in order to disguise your participation from the beginning. The research team will use this pseudonym at all times so that your information is totally anonymised and depersonalised. A master index will be kept on a computer encrypted file, so that your details can be located should you wish to withdraw your information from the study at any time.
· The data that is collected about you will be kept private. The data will be stored anonymously. It will be stored on a password protected Plymouth University computer and password protected laptop, with password encryption package ‘Truecrypt’ that would prevent data being accessed if the laptop was stolen. Only the research team will have access to the dataset. This will be kept in line with Plymouth University Regulations. University Policy requires all data collected for research purposes be stored for ten years before being destroyed.
· To make sure that the research is being conducted in the proper way, the Plymouth University Faculty of Health, Education & Society’s Research Ethics Committee have access to the research records.
· The Plymouth University, Faculty of Health, Education & Society Research Ethics Committee have approved this study. If you wish you can request an executive summary of the research when completed and the opportunity to read the full version if requested.
· Your participation in this study is voluntary and you are under no obligation to participate in this study.
· You have the right to change your mind and leave the study at any time without giving any reason and without any penalty, upon which all personal information will be immediately destroyed.
· If you wish to withdraw contact the researcher, either via the e-mail address or by writing to the lead researcher whose contact details are below.
· Any new information that might make you change your mind about being in the study will be provided to you.
· If you have an eating disorder you are strongly advised not to participate in this research.
If you consent to participate in this research then please e-mail the team at:
weightlossmanagementresearch@gmail.com
And on the Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weight-Loss-Management-Research/143523592473107
We are looking for individuals to contribute their experiences of weight loss management practices, including weight loss surgery that has been carried out in the UK and who are willing to participate in (a) a very short questionnaire and (b) an online or telephone interview.
The study will involve a series of e-mail interviews and/or a telephone interview. This may take place over a number of days or weeks, depending on your availability to participate.
First and foremost, the information gathered would be used to bring about a long-term improvement in the treatment options open to people who seek WLS or alternatives, and to improve the long-term support and care of people who have previously undergone WLS in the UK.
In order to do this, the results will be used specifically to inform new research funding bids that will explore better ways of supporting weight loss practices, including WLS. The information gathered would also be provided to WLS and weight loss support groups, and used to write academic papers for publication in the scientific literature and for dissemination at conferences. We would hope to publish findings in non-academic outlets as well.
If you decide to be part of this study, your participation will involve:
· Consenting to be interviewed by way of an exchange of e-mails.
· This will consist of 3-4 e-mail exchanges over a timescale to suit (and/or a telephone interview if this is preferred)
· The interview will focus upon your personal experiences of weight loss management practices in the UK, both past and present.
· You will be encouraged to identify themes that are of interest to you.
· The e-mail interview will be saved anonymously for future reference for the academic purposes as described above.
The following procedures will be followed in order to keep your personal information confidential:
· To protect your confidentiality, your name will not appear in any publications. You will be assigned a pseudonym (a fake name) that will be used instead of your real name in order to disguise your participation from the beginning. The research team will use this pseudonym at all times so that your information is totally anonymised and depersonalised. A master index will be kept on a computer encrypted file, so that your details can be located should you wish to withdraw your information from the study at any time.
· The data that is collected about you will be kept private. The data will be stored anonymously. It will be stored on a password protected Plymouth University computer and password protected laptop, with password encryption package ‘Truecrypt’ that would prevent data being accessed if the laptop was stolen. Only the research team will have access to the dataset. This will be kept in line with Plymouth University Regulations. University Policy requires all data collected for research purposes be stored for ten years before being destroyed.
· To make sure that the research is being conducted in the proper way, the Plymouth University Faculty of Health, Education & Society’s Research Ethics Committee have access to the research records.
· The Plymouth University, Faculty of Health, Education & Society Research Ethics Committee have approved this study. If you wish you can request an executive summary of the research when completed and the opportunity to read the full version if requested.
· Your participation in this study is voluntary and you are under no obligation to participate in this study.
· You have the right to change your mind and leave the study at any time without giving any reason and without any penalty, upon which all personal information will be immediately destroyed.
· If you wish to withdraw contact the researcher, either via the e-mail address or by writing to the lead researcher whose contact details are below.
· Any new information that might make you change your mind about being in the study will be provided to you.
· If you have an eating disorder you are strongly advised not to participate in this research.
If you consent to participate in this research then please e-mail the team at:
weightlossmanagementresearch@gmail.com
And on the Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Weight-Loss-Management-Research/143523592473107
We are a multidisciplinary research team based at Plymouth University, looking at ways to improve information and support to people seeking weight loss solutions.
Jonathan Pinkney is a Consultant Physician at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and Professor of Medicine at Plymouth University and Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. For many years he has promoted the understanding and recognition of obesity as a significant social and medical concern, and the development of support and better treatments. He works in the Plymouth weight management clinic, and his research interests include appetite regulation, weight reducing treatments for diabetes, and the long term results of weight loss surgery.
Gayle Letherby BA (Hons), PhD, AcSS is Professor of Sociology at Plymouth University. For the past 20 years Gayle has been researching and writing in a variety of areas including individuals’ experience of health and healthcare; reproductive identity and the experience of people who parent and people who do not. She also writes about the methods that social scientists use and their experience of using them. This includes consideration of qualitative methods such as interviewing and of research ethics.
Julie Parsons BA (Hons), MSc, is a Lecturer in the Sociology of Health & Illness at Plymouth University. She is in the process of writing up a PhD on food choice and identity using an auto/biographical research approach. She is interested in the ethics of research and computer mediated communication (CMC) as a means of conducting research.
Our Contact Details:
Professor Jonathan Pinkney MD FRCP
Professor of Medicine
Plymouth University and Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
Honorary Consultant Physician Diabetes and Endocrinology
University Medicine level 7 Derriford Hospital
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Crownhill, Plymouth PL6 8DH
Email: jonathan.pinkney@pms.ac.uk
Professor Gayle Letherby, BA (Hons), PhD, AcSS
Professor of Sociology and Director of the Institute of Health and Community
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Plymouth University
Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
Email: gayle.letherby@plymouth.ac.uk
Julie Parsons, BA (Hons), MSc.
Lecturer in Sociology of Health & Illness
School of Social Science & Social Work
Faculty of Health, Education & Society,
Plymouth University
Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
Email. jmparsons@plymouth.ac.uk
Research Title: An exploratory investigation into experiences of weight loss management practices including weight loss surgery from a UK perspective.
The research aims:
The aim of this research is to examine the experiences of a range of weight loss practices, such as weight watchers, lighter life and weight loss surgery (WLS) or bariatric surgery in the UK. The reason for the research is that we want to understand more about (i) why people do or do not want to consider WLS, and (ii) to understand more about the experiences of WLS and the support they received afterwards, from people who have undergone previous WLS in the UK. It is also currently uncertain what numbers of people might want to undergo WLS, and for those who do so, what they find the main support needs are after that surgery. The long-term aim of the research is to improve individual weight loss experiences in the UK.
How you can help:
We are looking for individuals to contribute their experiences of weight loss management practices, including weight loss surgery hat has been carried out in the UK and who are willing to participate in (a) a very short questionnaire and (b) an online or telephone interview. The study will involve a series of e-mail interviews and/or a telephone interview. This may take place over a number of days or weeks, depending on your availability to participate.
First and foremost, the information gathered would be used to bring about a long-term improvement in the treatment options open to people who seek WLS or alternatives, and to improve the long-term support and care of people who have previously undergone WLS in the UK. In order to do this, the results will be used specifically to inform new research funding bids that will explore better ways of supporting weight loss practices, including WLS. The information gathered would also be provided to WLS and weight loss support groups, and used to write academic papers for publication in the scientific literature and for dissemination at conferences. We would hope to publish findings in non-academic outlets as well.
What happens next?
If you decide to be part of this study, your participation will involve:
· Consenting to be interviewed by way of an exchange of e-mails.
· This will consist of 3-4 e-mail exchanges over a timescale to suit (and/or a telephone interview if this is preferred)
· The interview will focus upon your personal experiences of weight loss management practices in the UK, both past and present.
· You will be encouraged to identify themes that are of interest to you.
· The e-mail interview will be saved anonymously for future reference for the academic purposes as described above.
The following procedures will be followed in order to keep your personal information confidential:
· To protect your confidentiality, your name will not appear in any publications. You will be assigned a pseudonym (a fake name) that will be used instead of your real name in order to disguise your participation from the beginning. The research team will use this pseudonym at all times so that your information is totally anonymised and depersonalised. A master index will be kept on a computer encrypted file, so that your details can be located should you wish to withdraw your information from the study at any time.
· The data that is collected about you will be kept private. The data will be stored anonymously. It will be stored on a password protected Plymouth University computer and password protected laptop, with password encryption package ‘Truecrypt’ that would prevent data being accessed if the laptop was stolen. Only the research team will have access to the dataset. This will be kept in line with Plymouth University Regulations. University Policy requires all data collected for research purposes be stored for ten years before being destroyed.
· To make sure that the research is being conducted in the proper way, the Plymouth University Faculty of Health, Education & Society’s Research Ethics Committee have access to the research records.
· The Plymouth University, Faculty of Health, Education & Society Research Ethics Committee have approved this study. If you wish you can request an executive summary of the research when completed and the opportunity to read the full version if requested.
· Your participation in this study is voluntary and you are under no obligation to participate in this study.
· You have the right to change your mind and leave the study at any time without giving any reason and without any penalty, upon which all personal information will be immediately destroyed.
· If you wish to withdraw contact the researcher, either via the e-mail address or by writing to the lead researcher whose contact details are below.
· Any new information that might make you change your mind about being in the study will be provided to you.
· If you have an eating disorder you are strongly advised not to participate in this research.
If you consent to participate in this research then please e-mail the team at
weightlossmanagementresearch@gmail.com
