Participant Information Statement

Research study: Clinicians’ treatment considerations for an older adult with cancer: A discrete choice experiment.

Associate Professor Joanne Shaw (Responsible Researcher)
School of Psychology, Faculty of Science
Phone +61 2 9351 3761 | Email: joanne.shaw@sydney.edu.au
Ms Sharon He (PhD Student) | Email: sharon.he@sydney.edu.au

What is this study about?

You are invited to take part in this survey study, that aims to understand clinicians’ preferences and trade-offs when making treatment decisions for older adults with cancer using a discrete choice experiment (DCE) methodology. DCE studies involve presenting multiple choice sets, known as scenarios. In each choice set, participants are asked to select one of two options. Each option contains a set of characteristics (attributes) with different levels.

In this DCE survey, you will be presented with two vignettes: one describing a patient with prostate cancer and another describing a patient with lung cancer. You will be asked to consider the next treatment in sequence. You will then be asked to complete multiple-choice sets. In each choice set, you will be presented with two options that describe different patient and treatment attributes. You will be asked to select which option you would prefer when considering treatment for the patient.

Taking part in this study is voluntary.

Please read this sheet carefully and ask questions about anything you don’t understand or want to know more about.

Who is running this study?

The study is being carried out by the following researchers:

Ms Sharon He, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney

Associate Professor Joanne Shaw, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney

Dr Heather Shepherd, Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney

Professor Meera Agar, Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), University of Technology Sydney

Dr Rebekah Laidsaar-Powell, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney

Professor Richard De Abreu Lourenço, Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology Sydney

Sharon He is conducting this study as a basis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney.

Who can take part in the study?

We are seeking:

Currently practising oncologists (medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists) or senior oncology or surgical oncology trainees

Are willing and able to provide informed consent.

What will the study involve for me?

If you decide to take part in this study, you will be asked to complete an online survey which aims to understand oncologists’ preferences and trade-offs made when considering treatment for an older adult with cancer.

In this survey, you will be presented with two vignettes; one describing a patient with prostate cancer and another describing a patient with lung cancer. You will be asked to consider the next treatment in sequence. You will then be asked to complete multiple choice sets. In each choice set, you will be presented with two options that describe different patient (e.g., age, functional status, availability of carer) and treatment (e.g., survival) attributes. You will be asked to select which option you would prefer when considering treatment for the patient.

Following completion of the choice sets, you then be asked to complete further questions asking for your demographic, clinical practice information and six ad hoc questions related to the use of advancing age in treatment decisions.

We expect participation in the study will take around 35 minutes of your time.

Can I withdraw once I have started?

Being in this study is completely voluntary and you do not have to take part. Your decision will not affect your current or future relationship with the researchers or anyone else at The University of Sydney.

If you decide to take part in the study and then change your mind, you can withdraw any time before you submit the survey by closing your browser. However once your responses are submitted, they cannot be withdrawn. This is because they are anonymous, and we will not be able to tell which one yours is.

Are there any risks or costs?

Aside from giving up your time, we do not expect that there will be any risks or costs associated with taking part in this study. However, if you do feel upset or require support, please contact your GP or the employee assistance program.

Are there any benefits?

You will not receive any direct benefits from being in the study. However, this research will provide an understanding of the preferences and relative importance of clinical or patient characteristics that impact on treatment decisions for older adults with cancer.

What will happen to information that is collected?

By providing your consent, you are agreeing to us collecting information from or about you for the purposes of this study. Any identifiable information you provide us will be stored securely and will only be disclosed with your permission unless we are required by law to release information.

We plan to publish the study findings. You will not be individually identifiable in these publications.

During the study, the online survey will be hosted on the online Pureprofile platform, data collected will be stored on a secure, password-protected University of Sydney server. Only researchers approved as part of this study will have access to the data. All survey responses collected will be non-identifiable information. As such anonymous data will be used in the analysis.

We will store this information and dispose of it securely following the University’s Recordkeeping Policy. For more details about how your information will be handled please see the University’s privacy webpage.

Will I be told the results of the study?

You have the right to receive feedback about the overall results of this study. If you would like feedback, please tick yes to receiving feedback on the online consent form and provide your contact details. Once the study is finished, you will receive feedback in the form of a brief summary.

What if I would like more information?

When you have read this information, the following researcher(s) will be available to discuss it with you further and answer any questions you may have:

Sharon He, PhD Student, sharon.he@sydney.edu.au

What if I have a complaint or any concerns?

The ethical aspects of this study have been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) of The University of Sydney (ethics reference: 2024/HE001827) according to the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.

If you are concerned about the way this study is being conducted or you wish to make a complaint to someone independent from the study, please contact the University:

Human Ethics Manager
human.ethics@sydney.edu.au
+61 2 8627 8176

This information sheet is for you to keep

Participant Consent Form

I agree to take part in this research study. In giving my consent, I confirm that that:

The details of my involvement have been explained to me, and I have been provided with a written Participant Information Statement to keep.

I understand the purpose of the study is to identify clinicians’ preferences and trade-offs made when considering treatment for older adults with cancer.

I acknowledge that the risks and benefits of participating in this study have been explained to me to my satisfaction.

I understand that in this study I will be required to complete an online discrete choice experiment survey, followed by online questions asking for demographic, clinical practice information and six ad hoc questions related to the use of advancing age in treatment decisions.

I understand that being in this study is completely voluntary.

I am assured that my decision to participate will not have any impact on my relationship with the research team or the University of Sydney.

I understand that I am free to withdraw from this study at any time and that I can choose to withdraw any information I have already provided (unless the data has already been de-identified or published).

I have been informed that the confidentiality of the information I provide will be protected and will only be used for purposes that I have agreed to. I understand that information identifying me will only be told to others with my permission, except as required by law.

I understand that the results of this study may be published, and that publications will not contain my name or any identifiable information about me.

I confirm the following:

Please select one response for each statement.


	Yes	No
I consent to being contacted for future studies	Yes	No
I agree to take part in this research study	Yes	No
I would like feedback on the overall results of this study	Yes	No

Yes

I consent to being contacted for future studies

Yes

I agree to take part in this research study

Yes

I would like feedback on the overall results of this study

Yes

If you answered yes to receiving feedback or being contacted in future, please provide your preferred contact details (email/telephone/postal address):

Please type in the box provided.

I understand that after I submit this consent form it will be retained by the researcher, and that I may request a copy at any time.

Please type in the box provided.

Participant Name

Date