What is the study about?
The aim of this study is to explore management strategies administered by people with MS who have urinary symptoms. Urinary symptoms can include urgency (the sudden need to go to the toilet) or frequency (going to the toilet very often) or nocturia (needing to wake up in the night to go to the toilet).
What is the procedure of the study?
This study will involve one telephone or face-to-face interview. During this interview the study researcher will ask questions related to the management strategies for your urinary related symptoms and you will discuss your experiences. The conversation will be recorded so that we can transcribe and analyse the data later on.
What happens to the information?
Each interviewee will be given a pseudonym, so your identity will not be apparent. When we write papers or present the results at conferences there will be no names used. The interviews and all recordings will be stored securely and confidentially in the principal investigator office in the School of Allied Health at the University of Limerick.
Who else is taking part in this study?
- People with MS who have urinary symptoms.
- Should more respondents agree to participate than anticipated, a representative sample of participants will be sought to participate based on gender, type and severity of symptoms
What are the benefits and risks?
- There are no expected risks to participants. The findings of the study will broaden our knowledge as to how people with MS manage their urinary symptoms. Exploring management strategies among people with MS will assist in the development of an intervention that may serve to improve management of urinary symptoms.
- Should a participant become distressed during the interview, the interviewer will be guided by her code of professional conduct in engaging with the person. Furthermore, participants will be advised to follow up with their GP or neurologist regarding their symptoms.
What happens at the end of the study?
At the end of the study the information provided from all participants will be analysed. If you wish, we will post or email you the analysis of your own interview. Participants data related to interview and the audio-recording will be held by the principal investigator for up to seven years on a password-protected computer at the University of Limerick.
What if I change my mind during the study?
At any stage of the study if you feel you want to stop as a participant in the study, you have the full right to withdraw without any explanation or impact on current or future treatments.
Contact name and email of the study investigators:
Principal Investigator:
Dr. Rose Galvin Phone: 061-234149
Co- investigators:
Prof. Susan Coote Phone: 061-234149
Hawra Al Dandan (PhD student) Email: Hawra.aldandan@ul.ie
This research study has received Ethics approval from the Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee (Ref 2019_05_18_EHS)
If you have any concerns about this study and wish to contact someone independent, you may contact: Chairman Education and Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, EHS Faculty Office, University of Limerick Tel (061) 202511 or Email: ehsresearchethics@ul.ie