Are you interested in infant sleep? Are you a first time mother? Do you have a child aged between 6 and 36 months? We are currently carrying out research to learn more about what methods mothers recommend to manage common infant sleep difficulties. We are also interested in mother’s thoughts about the reasons why infants may have difficulties sleeping at times. If you are interested in learning more about this research and completing a short questionnaire please click on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/S/NCGMPB9
More information:
Title: What do mothers believe that may be helpful to manage infants’ sleep difficulties?
You are being invited to take part in a research study. This study is an educational study, for the purpose of a Doctorate Course in Clinical Psychology. Before you decide whether or not you wish to take part in this study, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Therefore, I am providing you with the following information. Please take time to read this information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Please ask me if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part. You do not have to make an immediate decision.
What is the purpose of the study?
The purpose of this study is to learn more about mother’s beliefs about infants sleep and what strategies they suggest could be used to help manage infants’ sleep.
Why is the study important?
Settling and waking difficulties are extremely common among infants and young children. There is a range of advice available for mothers on how to manage infants’ sleep. However, it is important to learn more about mothers’ own beliefs about infant sleep and what may help. The findings of this study may help improve our understanding of what approaches are helpful to manage infant sleep.
Why have I been chosen?
You have been chosen to take part in this study because we are interested in gathering information from mothers who have infants aged between 6 and 36 months old.
Do I have to take part?
It is entirely up to you to decide whether or not to take part in this study. If you decide to take part please continue to read this information sheet. If you agree to take part you are still free to stop completing questionnaires at any point and you do not have to give a reason. No one will know if you have decided not to take part.
What will happen to me if I take part?
If you agree to take part in the study, your participation will involve reading three short descriptions of children with sleep problems. You would then be asked to complete some questionnaires about each child’s sleep difficulties. You will be asked what approach you would recommend to the mother in each story to manage their infant’s sleep. You will also be asked some questions about how you cope with difficulties and about your general levels of worry. You will also be asked about the sleep patterns of your own child. The questionnaires will be anonymous and will be stored in a secure setting. Your identity will remain unknown to others and no-one will be able to tell that you have answered the questions. You do not have to answer questions that you are not comfortable with.
What do I have to do?
If you agree to be part of this study, you will be asked to read the descriptions of children with sleep problems and complete the questionnaires. This should all take approximately 20 minutes. All completed questionnaires will be anonymous.
Will the information that I give be kept confidential?
Yes. Any information given will be kept strictly confidential. Your identity will remain unknown to others and all questionnaires completed and information used in the write up of this study shall remain anonymous. All questionnaires will be stored securely and destroyed on completion of the research in line with the Data Protection Act of 1998. The storage of completed interviews will be kept in a manner that does not identity you in any direct way. Data obtained during this study may be looked at by responsible individuals from the Health Promotion Department, from regulatory authorities or from the NHS trust, to check that the study is being carried out correctly. All will have a duty of confidentiality to you as a research participant and nothing that could reveal your identity will be disclosed.
What will happen if I don’t want to carry on with the research?
If you change your mind about taking part in this study you do not have to complete and return the questionnaire to the researcher. No one will know if you have done this.
What are the potential benefits of taking part?
The study will help you personally, but the information I get will help us to get a greater understanding of what factors influence mothers’ use of sleep strategies for infant sleep. This may provide further information about how sleep strategies we suggest can be improved. This may help reduce levels of stress for parents and allow children to sleep better.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
There are no real risks to taking part in the study. However, completing this questionnaire may potentially lead to questions or concerns about your infant’s sleep. Therefore, a list of sources of support and helpline numbers will be provided for you if you require any additional help and support. You are free to change your mind about completing this questionnaire at any time during the study.
Who is supervising this study?
My research supervisor, Dr Kenneth Mac Mahon, who works for the University of Glasgow, will supervise me.
What if there is a problem?
If you wish to complain, or have any concerns about any aspect of the way you have been approached or treated during the course of this study, you can contact my supervisor, Dr Kenneth MacMahon at the University of Glasgow (Tel: 0141 232 7700), who will be able to advise you on the appropriate complaints procedure, should you wish to use this.
What will happen to the results of the research study?
The results of this study will be given to the University of Glasgow as part of an educational research project required for completion of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology course that the researcher is involved in. It is intended to publish these results in the relevant psychology journals and make them available in the University library. You will not be identifiable in any publications and the information you have given is entirely anonymous, ensuring that your identity will remain unknown to others. A written summary of the results will be given to you by the researcher if you so request. You can request a copy of the results from your Health Visitor or Group Leader or you can request a summary of the findings via the researcher’s email.
Who is reviewing and paying for this study?
This study is being funded through the University of Glasgow and has been reviewed by a Research Ethics Committee. The committee has approved the research.
FFF contact
Ann-Marie Wall,
Trainee Clinical Psychologist
ann-marie.wall@nhs.net
Recent Comments