Participant Information Sheet
MODREC Application No: 2245/MODREC/23
Invitation to take part:
You are invited to take part in a research study investigating what the current awareness and understanding is around aspects of women's health. This survey is open to and interested in the views of both men and women in the RAF.
The following information sheet forms part of the process of informed consent and what your participation will involve. Your participation in this survey is voluntary and should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.
Should you have any questions about the research, please email any of the research team (details below).
Please note, during the survey you will be asked if you identify with any of the below. If you do, your answers are important and valuable and will contribute to Section 1 and 2 of the survey only:
- Pregnant
- Having a formal diagnosis for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Endometriosis
- Experiencing symptoms associated with perimenopause or menopause.
- Being on hormone treatment (not including hormonal contraception) that affects your periods.
What is the purpose of the research?
In order to ensure that we are supporting our women in the Armed Forces, the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) has recommended that an awareness around the effect of menstruation on servicewomen should be a part of leadership training. To better identify what training is required, the primary purpose of this research is to first ascertain the current knowledge and awareness around menstruation and contraception use in the military.
This survey will identify whether there are any differences between men and women, at different stages in their career, in terms of their awareness and understanding of menstrual cycles. This survey further explores experiences faced by servicewomen around contraception use and impact on training.
Who is doing this research?
Self-funded MSc by Anjali Bamrah, Bath University. Supervised by Army Health and Performance Research, Army Headquarters and Bath University.
Why have I been invited to take part?
You have been invited to take part because you are either pre-joining, undertaking Phase I training or currently serving in the RAF.
Do I have to take part?
Your participation in this survey is voluntary and if you chose not to participate, your military career will not be impacted.
What will I be asked to do?
You will be asked to complete an online survey that will ask about you and your current awareness of menstrual cycles. If you are female, there will be further questions on your experiences around managing your menstrual cycle in training or deployment and contraception use. This survey is completely anonymous, with no personal identifiable data required.
Please answer all questions honestly as this will help our understanding further and note that no judgement is placed on the answers you provide.
Are there any direct benefits to me of taking part?
Your insights could potentially be used to improve the life of servicewomen in the Armed Forces. There are no direct benefits to taking part.
What are the possible disadvantages (or risks) of taking part?
There are no significant disadvantages or risks identified in taking part in this survey. There may be some questions, albeit unlikely, that may trigger negative emotions. Should this occur, participants are encouraged to make an appointment with their MedCentre to discuss further.
Can I withdraw from the research and what will happen if I withdraw?
Participation in this study is voluntary. You can withdraw at any point whilst completing the survey online. Once you have submitted this survey, you cannot amend your answers or withdraw from the study as all answers are anonymous and the research team will not be able to ascertain which responses were yours.
Will I receive any expenses or payments?
No
Will my taking part or not taking part affect my career?
No. Participating in the survey, or not, will have no impact on your military or future career.
Who do I contact if I have any questions?
Name: Anjali Bamrah
Address: PCRF Cranwell, RMC, RAF Cranwell, Sleaford, NG34 8HB
Tel No: 0300 152 6133
E-mail: [email protected]
Who do I contact if I have a complaint?
Volunteer Advocate: Dr Jennifer Russell
[email protected]
Bath Ethics: [email protected]
What happens if I suffer any harm?
If you suffer any harm as a direct result of taking part in this study, you can apply for compensation under the MOD’s No-Fault Compensation Scheme.
Will my records be kept confidential?
Yes. All data collected in this research is anonymous and no personal identifiable data is required at any stage. The results of this survey will be used as part of University of Bath Master’s research programme and may contribute to wider research within the MoD to optimise women’s health delivery and care in the military. The data analysed from the survey may be used in external publications and presentations.
Data will be kept for 10 years and used only if the raw data assists with any future research in the MoD. To reiterate, all data is anonymous throughout. This process complies with the Data Protection Act 2018 when handling your data.
Who has reviewed the study?
This study has been reviewed and approved by:
ADMR Research Coordination Group (RCG)
RAF Scientific Advisory Committee (RAF SAC)
University of Bath, Research Ethics Approval Committee for Health (REACH) [reference: 0330-2390].
Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee (MODREC).
Further Information and Contact Details
Name: Anjali Bamrah
Address: PCRF Cranwell, RMC, RAF Cranwell, Sleaford, NG34 8HB
Tel No: 0300 152 6133
E-mail: [email protected]
Name : Prof Julie Greeves
Address : Army Health and Performance Research, Army Headquarters, IDL6, Blenheim Building, Andover, Hampshire, SP11 8HT
Tel No : 0300 157 9149
E-mail : [email protected]
