- What will we be doing during this study?
- What kinds of questions does the electronic diary ask?
- Will my son/daughter share his/her answers to the checklists with me?
- How will we be paid?
- When will the orientation sessions and electronic diary days occur?
- Will the palmtop electronic diary interfere with planned activities, schoolwork,
or special events?
- Is this a medication study? Will my child's medication dosage be changed
or withheld during the study?
- Will we be able to request any treatment recommendations at the end of the study?
- How will information from this study be used?
1. What will we be doing during this study?
- First, you will attend an orientation session with your child either
on or near the UC Irvine campus. During this session, you will complete some
questionnaires about your daily life, personality, and stress levels. You will
be introduced to and have a chance to practice with our project equipment--handheld
(palmtop) computers. All of your questions about this study will be answered.
The session will take about 1½ hours for your child and up to 3 hours
for you. It will take place either on the UC Irvine campus, or a location near your home, such as a public library.
- During your diary week, you and your child will separately fill out a 1 to 1½-minute electronic checklist on a palmtop computer approximately every half hour for 5 weekdays before and after school and during 2 weekend days.
2. What kinds of questions does the electronic diary ask?
Answer: The diary will ask where you are, who you are with, what you are doing, your mood, your interactions with your child, your diet, etc. You will answer the questions using a checklist; no writing is necessary. You and your child will complete the same checklists independently using your own separate handheld computers.
3. Will my son/daughter share his/her answers to the checklists with me?
Answer: No, you will not see your child's responses, nor will your child see yours. Confidentiality is of prime importance in this study. Once your answers are entered into the computer, no one but the researchers will have access to your data. Even then, your name will NOT be connected with the data. Instead, your information will be identified by a special code.
4. How will we be paid?
Answer: You and your child will each be paid $10 for each weekday you complete the electronic checklist and $25 for each weekend day for a total of up to $200. You will be paid when you return all of the equipment and materials to our lab at the end of the diary week.
5. When will the orientation session and electronic diary days occur?
Answer: We conduct orientations on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We will ask you to choose the best day and time for the orientation session and the most convenient week for the electronic diary. Your child must be attending school during the diary week.
6. Will the palmtop electronic diary interfere with planned activities, schoolwork, or special events?
Answer: This study encourages you and your child to go about your normal activities and routines each day. During the weekdays, the checklist will activate before and after school so it will not interfere with your child's school hours. During the weekends, the diary will signal you and your child during your waking hours. If the diary signals during a special event or incompatible activity (such as driving, soccer game, bicycling) you will not be expected to respond. It typically takes 1 to 2 minutes to complete each checklist.
7. Is this a medication study? Will my child’s medication dosage be changed or withheld during the study?
Answer: No and No. We are only enrolling children who are on a stable dosage of Strattera, as prescribed by their own physicians.
8. Will we be able to request any treatment recommendations at the end of the study?
Answer: No. This study is like an extended survey where you are paid for participation. We are unable to offer treatment recommendations.
9. How will information from this study be used?
Answer: The information you provide us with will be used to increase our understanding of the daily lives of families. This information may be useful in developing programs to decrease parenting stress and enhance the quality of family life.