Information about BetterBonds

Evaluation of an online attachment-based parenting program

Queensland Health ethics approval number: HREC/18/QTHS/77_4

University of Sunshine ethics approval number: S181216

Hello, you have been invited to participate in an exciting new parenting intervention named BetterBonds. This was developed as part of my PhD research through the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Parenting is important to the health and wellbeing of our children.  A secure relationship between children and their caregivers can protect children against stress.  The goal of BetterBonds is to help parents understand what is needed for a healthy and secure bond with their children.  BetterBonds can provide a space where you can reflect on your parenting in a non-judgemental way.

This page will provide you with information to help you make a decision as to whether you will participate in this research.

Purpose

This research examines whether BetterBonds works for parents.  Other similar interventions which are delivered in person have been shown to work but this is the first time an online version has been trialled. The information you provide and the feedback you give will help us understand if this works and make it more user-friendly for other parents.

Participant experience

You have been invited to take part as your family may benefit from BetterBonds.  As part of BetterBonds you will be asked to complete some questions at the start and end of the research as well as 3 months after you complete the intervention.  These questions will help me to assess whether BetterBonds worked for you.  In some cases, you may be put on a waitlist for 3 months, but you will still need to complete the measures to ensure you get access.  If you are put on the waitlist you will receive an email confirming that you are on the waitlist.

BetterBonds consists of 6 modules which will take approximately 1 hour each to complete.  You will be given 12 weeks in which to complete BetterBonds, however, the recommendation is to try to complete 1 module per week.  These modules focus on how you can build a healthy relationship with your child and reflect on your parenting.  Each module has an activity at the end to help you put the ideas in real life practice.

As part of logging on to the BetterBonds website, your email address will need to be entered.  Your email address is not linked to your responses.  Your email address will be retained by the researcher and will be used to notify you as to whether you are to complete the intervention straightaway or whether you are on a waitlist to complete the intervention.  Your email will be used for the prize draw to win an iPad. Further, your email may be used to encourage you to complete the measures and follow up.  Your email will also be retained after the research and may be used to contact you to request your participation in a longer follow up. 

Risks and benefits

As with any intervention, there are risks and benefits. The main risk is that the information provided may lead to you having strong feelings. Parenting is a challenging task and the goal of this intervention is to help you understand parenting relationships better.  If you do feel upset by the information provided you can contact one of the services listed on the contact page.

The benefit of BetterBonds is that you will learn about parenting and reflect on your own parenting.   This can provide you with skills and knowledge for the future.  While other similar interventions have been found to work this is a new intervention, which has not been evaluated before.  If you have any concerns or would like to talk further please refer to the contacts section for information about the services, which are available to you.

Contacts

The research team consists of Mary Gregory (PhD Candidate and Principal Researcher), Dr Rachael Sharman (Supervisor and Senior Lecturer), and Dr Lee Kannis (Supervisor and Senior Lecturer), direct questions or feedback to:

Mary Gregory

Email: Mary.Gregory@research.usc.edu.au

Phone: 0420741938

Internet accessibility

To complete BetterBonds you need Internet access.  You can use a phone, tablet, or desktop computer.  Free Internet access is available at public libraries (check your local library for details) if you do not have access at home.  If you are unable to complete this intervention due to lack of Internet access, please contact Mary Gregory on the phone number above.

Participation and consent

Completing BetterBonds is voluntary (your choice), and you may discontinue at any time without penalty.  Your responses cannot be identified. Once you have submitted your responses you cannot withdraw them.  Consent is for the use of the information you provide in this research project.

Intellectual Property Rights

The student (Mary Gregory) owns all the intellectual property she has created for this website and intervention.  Please see the Policy for more information: The University of the Sunshine Coast Intellectual Property – Governing Policyhttps://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures/intellectual-property-governing-policy

Confidentiality and results

The information you provide cannot be identified, and no member of the research team will know you have participated.  There are limits to confidentiality, which are outlined in the Australian Psychological Society Code of Ethics.  The research team reserves the right to report to the appropriate authorities, such as the police or child protection authorities, situations where a respondent is judged to be at risk of self-harm, or of harming others, especially if a child under the age of 18 years is at risk.  As psychologists, we are obliged to report to police information received about the commission of a criminal act. If you would like a summary of findings of this research project, please email Mary Gregory. Non-identifiable results may be presented at conferences, meetings, and in publications.

Google Analytics has been added to the website.  This provides anonymous information about the amount of time you spend on the site, the times of day you have accessed the site, how many pages you viewed, and how many times you visited the website.   This information will help us to better understand the ways you used the website.

The questions you answer are through a company named Survey Monkey which is based overseas. The information you provide will be transferred to Survey Monkey’s overseas server. By completing this survey, you agree to this transfer. The data remains the property of the researcher and is not on sold or used elsewhere:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/mp/policy/privacy-policy/

Complaints / Concerns

If you have any complaints about the way this research project is being conducted, you can raise them with the Principal Researcher.

Ethics approval

This project has been reviewed and approved by the Townsville Hospital and Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee. For concerns relating the conduct of this project contact the HREC Chairperson, Phone: 07 4433 1440, Email: TSV-Ethics-Committee@health.qld.gov.au

The researchers and the University of the Sunshine Coast thank you for your consideration of this study.

 

Information Sheet                       Version 2.0                Date: 10.07.2018