Galveston Bay Recovery Study
BIPI stands for Brief Internet Psycho-educational Intervention.
Purpose of the Web-based Program
The purpose of the Web-based program is to learn about new ways of providing information to people affected by disasters. We want to learn whether online education about emotional and behavioral reactions to disasters is helpful in preventing problems with anxiety, depression, and health-risk behavior.
Your participation will help us learn how to better meet the needs of disaster victims after future disasters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the purpose for this part of the Galveston Bay Recovery Study?
A. The purpose of this part of the study is to look at new ways of giving out information that can be helpful to people who were possibly affected by Hurricane Ike. We would like to get a better understanding to see if certain ways of presenting information are useful in preventing problems with anxiety or depression.
For example, one way might be to provide information about the emotional effects of disasters. Another way might be to give information about community support services.
Q. How will I get this information?
A. You will access this information on a website that has been specifically designed for this project. You can access the website from your home or from a publicly-available computer that has an internet connection, such as a library.
Q. What is specifically on this website?
A. The website will describe reactions to disasters that are sometimes, but not always experienced by people who have gone through them. The website will also show you certain things you can do to minimize reactions you may be experiencing. There will be some very brief video clips shown on different parts of the site. They will feature an individual talking or a demonstration of coping skills. It will also contain questions about your impressions of the site and your reactions to stressful events. You will be asked to answer these questions online over a secure server.
Q. How long will this take?
A. You can access this website as often as you like after your initial visit. You will determine exactly how often and for how long you would like to participate and continue using the website after your first visit.
Q. Who will see my answers?
A. This is part of the Galveston Bay Recovery Study and the answers that you gave to the interviewer over the phone are linked to the identification number for your answers to the website questions. Your name is not attached, just this number.
Your responses will be combined with other responses from the study and they will be looked at, as a group, by the investigators of the Galveston Bay Recovery Study. All of the information that is obtained in this study that can be identified with you will remain confidential to the extent possible within State and Federal law.
In addition, this study has obtained a certificate of confidentiality to help further ensure the privacy of the data collected and your identity. In the end, the investigators, sponsors, and the Institutional Review Board for Human Research will have access to identifying information.
Q. Will I be paid for participating in the website portion of the study?
A. You will not be paid to participate.
Q. What is the benefit to participating in the study?
A. The potential benefit to you is that the information you received might reduce anxiety and sadness in the next few weeks or months. The information presented to you on the website might also help you understand a little better some of the emotions you may be experiencing after Hurricane Ike. Additionally, by participating in the study, we may learn about new ways to help others after future disasters.
Q. What if I decide not to participate?
A. Your participation in this part of the study is voluntary. You may refuse to take part in it or stop taking part in this part of the study at any time. If that is the case, please notify the investigator in charge of the study. This will not affect any benefits to which you are entitled.
The investigator is Dr. Ken Ruggiero and he can be reached at ruggierk@musc.edu.
If you have questions about any of your rights as a research study participant, you may contact the University of Michigan Health Sciences Institutional Review Board:
University of Michigan Health Sciences Institutional Review Board
540 East Liberty Street, Suite 202, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: (734) 936-0933 FAX: (734) 998-9171
irbhsbs@umich.edu
Please identify the study with the ID # HUM 00019324.