Plain Language Statement

Project Title

Making Pathology Reports Smarter by Incorporating User Characteristics in Design

Investigators

Dr. Reeva Lederman, Lecturer, Department of Information Systems, The University of Melbourne
Dr Suelette Dreyfus, Research Fellow, Department of Information Systems, The University of Melbourne
Dr Ralph Audehm, Medical Practitioner, Dianella Medical Centre
Dr. Basil Alzougool, Research Fellow, Department of Information Systems, The University of Melbourne
Prof. Paul Monagle, Stevenson Chair of Paediatrics and Head, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne
Dr Stephen Smith, Senior Lecturer, Department of Accounting and Finance, Monash University

Reason for this research

Pathology reports for patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, are designed as a record of test results for the laboratory and the treating physician. Unfortunately, the technical nature of these reports makes them hard to understand for the average patient. The aim of this research project is to find ways to design medical reports so that patients can understand them better.

How is this study funded?

This study is being funded via grant from the Department of Health and Ageing.

Recruitment

All participants in this study have been recruited through medical centres. We are seeking a wide cross-section of the community to ensure that results can be generalised to the wider population.

What does the research involve?

You will be asked to discuss your impressions of a new way of displaying and sharing blood test results.

How much time does it take?

A few extra minutes in your medical consultation, approximately 5 minutes to fill out a response form and an optional 5 minutes of follow up telephone interview.

What are the benefits associated with participating in this study?

The information obtained from this project will help to improve our knowledge about information needs and motivations relating to the management of chronic diseases. Our ultimate aim is improve medical reports so that they better meet individual requirements.

Can I withdraw at any time?

Yes. Your participation in this research project is completely voluntary. Should you wish to withdraw at any stage, or to withdraw any unprocessed data you have supplied, you are free to do so without prejudice.

Will your participation involve any risk or inconvenience?

No. The interview procedures do not involve any physical or psychological risk.

Publications arising from this project

We envisage publishing the results of this study in high-quality academic journals as well as high-circulation practitioner publications. Your anonymity will be maintained at all times.

How will your confidentiality be protected?

After this session, the data you have supplied will be identified only by the participant ID at the top of this form (e.g. E1M02). Your name and contact details will be kept separate computer from any data that you supply in a password-protected file. In any publication arising from this work, you will be referred to by a pseudonym, and references to personal information that might allow someone to guess your identity will be removed. The data will be kept securely in the Department of Computing and Information Systems for five years from the date of the last publication before being destroyed.

Will participation prejudice you in any way?

Your responses to the questions in the interview or the experiment will be used for research purposes only and that you will not be identified in any reporting of the results.

How will you receive feedback?

Should you wish to receive feedback; a summary of the findings will be sent to the email or mail address that you may nominate on the data collection form.

Where can you get further information?

Should you require any further information, or have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact any of the researchers using the contact details given above.

What can I do if I have concerns about the project?

If you have a complaint concerning the manner in which this research is being conducted, please contact:

Kate Murphy
Executive Officer, Human Research Ethics
Secretary, Central HREC
University of Melbourne
Secretary, Health Sciences HESC
tel: (03) 8344 2073