Stress, Support and Well-Being of Women with Breast Cancer

Stress, Support and Psychological Well-Being of Women with Breast Cancer

www.surveymonkey.com/s/breastcancerstudy
(Need to copy and paste this, or see 'website' section of this event for the direct link).

Dear Madam,

If you are an adult (at least 18 years of age) Australian female who has ever been diagnosed with breast cancer, you are invited to participate in a research study exploring the impact of stress and support on the well-being of women who have had breast cancer. The study is being conducted by Stacey Borsboom. I am a CQUniversity Postgraduate Psychology student.

Purpose of the study

This research aims to extend understandings of the breast cancer experience, including the process via which women with breast cancer can achieve a sense of well-being. Research results have the potential to be used in the development of interventions aiming to alleviate the adverse impacts of breast cancer on the well-being of women.

Participation

Involvement in this study is completely voluntary and there are no negative academic or employment consequences if you decline to participate in this research. If you do choose to contribute to this study, however, participation will involve completing an online questionnaire, which should take around 20 minutes of your time to complete. The questionnaire will ask questions relating to how you felt at the time of your diagnosis and throughout your treatment, and how you feel at present. You can withdraw from the study at any time before submitting your online responses, by simply failing to complete and submit the questionnaire.

Are there any risks?

All results obtained through this research will be completely anonymous and treated as strictly confidential. Data from specific individuals is not of interest to this study, as only group findings are relevant. Data gained from this study will be utilised in the preparation of a thesis, and possibly journal articles or conference papers, but only general group trends will be reported.

Participation is not associated with any known risks (other than inconvenience of time required to complete the survey). Participants who do experience any distress as a result of participating in this research should contact the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 (available 8.30 am to 8 pm Monday to Friday) or via the website: www.cancer.org.au. Alternatively, participants can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) for counselling support, or visit the Lifeline website: www.lifeline.org.au

What are the benefits?

It is hoped that the information collected in this study will add to the knowledge and understanding of the breast cancer experience, including the importance of support throughout the journey and its impact on well-being, so that future breast cancer support can be tailored to benefit women who will experience this disease. Participation in this study, however, may not directly benefit you.

Contacts

Submitting your responses to the questionnaire will indicate that you consent to participate in this research. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the research, please do not hesitate to contact the research supervisor of this study, Dr Suzanne Coker via email: s.coker@cqu.edu.au or on phone number: 0437 404 770. Finally, should you have any queries or complaints regarding the ethical conduct of this study you can contact CQUniversity’s Office of Research on (07) 4923 2607, or email: ethics@cqu.edu.au

Thankyou for taking the time to consider this study,

Stacey Borsboom
Postgraduate Psychology Student
CQUniversity Australia