1. What is the
purpose of the study?
This research project aims to evaluate if any of the medical doctors’ personal characteristic(s), including specific ethnic background, gender and appearance, are associated with experiences of discrimination of various natures in their work settings, and if so, how frequent and intense this phenomenon is.
In order to collect this set of information, a modified version of an instrument previously validated in the USA will be used for the first time in Australia. It is expected that this investigation will produce a valid and important tool for future research and clinical use in Australian health care settings. The results of this study may be presented in the form of scientific presentations and manuscripts.
2. Who will be invited to enter the study?
You are eligible to participate in this study because you are a medical graduate who are currently working in one of the health centres selected for this study.
3. Do you have a choice?
Participation in this study is voluntary. If you decide not to participate in this study, your professional life will not be affected as a result of your decision. Your decision to participate or not in this study should not affect your relationship with your colleagues, employers and patients. If you wish to withdraw from the study once it has started, you can do so at any time without having to give a reason.
4. What will happen on the study?
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete the following questionnaires:
a) Demographic Information Sheet
b) Everyday Discrimination Scale
c) Workplace Discrimination Survey
The usual amount of time required to complete the questionnaires mentioned above is around 10 to 20 minutes. This study will be conducted over a two-month period.
5. Are there any risks?
Some people may find that some of the questions included in the questionnaires cause them distress. You are not obliged to continue the survey if you feel distressed at any time.
6. Are there any benefits?
Information collected in this project will be analyzed and interpreted for scientific purposes only. The information generated in this study will help scientists to determine if medical graduates are exposed to any form of discrimination, and if so, what is the magnitude of this phenomenon. In addition, this research may help the authors to examine the usefulness and validity of the questionnaires tested in this study.
7. Confidentiality / Privacy
The questionnaires used in this study do not allow for any personal information to be recorded. Therefore, participants in this study will not be identified. All information gathered in this study will remain confidential.
8. Will taking part in this study cost me anything, and will I be paid?
Participation in this study will not cost you anything. Your participation is totally voluntary and you will not be reimbursed.
9. What happens with the results?
The authors of this project plan to publish the results of this study in scientific journals, presentations at conferences and similar professional forums. Results of this study will not be used in any commercial action.
10. Complaints
This study has been approved by SWAHS Human Research Ethics Committee (Westmead Campus) and the NSW Institute of Psychiatry Human Ethics Committee.
Any person with concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study should contact the secretary, SWAHS Human Research Ethics Committee, email [email protected], telephone 9845 8183.
This research project aims to evaluate if any of the medical doctors’ personal characteristic(s), including specific ethnic background, gender and appearance, are associated with experiences of discrimination of various natures in their work settings, and if so, how frequent and intense this phenomenon is.
In order to collect this set of information, a modified version of an instrument previously validated in the USA will be used for the first time in Australia. It is expected that this investigation will produce a valid and important tool for future research and clinical use in Australian health care settings. The results of this study may be presented in the form of scientific presentations and manuscripts.
2. Who will be invited to enter the study?
You are eligible to participate in this study because you are a medical graduate who are currently working in one of the health centres selected for this study.
3. Do you have a choice?
Participation in this study is voluntary. If you decide not to participate in this study, your professional life will not be affected as a result of your decision. Your decision to participate or not in this study should not affect your relationship with your colleagues, employers and patients. If you wish to withdraw from the study once it has started, you can do so at any time without having to give a reason.
4. What will happen on the study?
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to complete the following questionnaires:
a) Demographic Information Sheet
b) Everyday Discrimination Scale
c) Workplace Discrimination Survey
The usual amount of time required to complete the questionnaires mentioned above is around 10 to 20 minutes. This study will be conducted over a two-month period.
5. Are there any risks?
Some people may find that some of the questions included in the questionnaires cause them distress. You are not obliged to continue the survey if you feel distressed at any time.
6. Are there any benefits?
Information collected in this project will be analyzed and interpreted for scientific purposes only. The information generated in this study will help scientists to determine if medical graduates are exposed to any form of discrimination, and if so, what is the magnitude of this phenomenon. In addition, this research may help the authors to examine the usefulness and validity of the questionnaires tested in this study.
7. Confidentiality / Privacy
The questionnaires used in this study do not allow for any personal information to be recorded. Therefore, participants in this study will not be identified. All information gathered in this study will remain confidential.
8. Will taking part in this study cost me anything, and will I be paid?
Participation in this study will not cost you anything. Your participation is totally voluntary and you will not be reimbursed.
9. What happens with the results?
The authors of this project plan to publish the results of this study in scientific journals, presentations at conferences and similar professional forums. Results of this study will not be used in any commercial action.
10. Complaints
This study has been approved by SWAHS Human Research Ethics Committee (Westmead Campus) and the NSW Institute of Psychiatry Human Ethics Committee.
Any person with concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study should contact the secretary, SWAHS Human Research Ethics Committee, email [email protected], telephone 9845 8183.
