- In-person and online services avaialbe
- Donate
Letter of Information
and Participant Consent
Community Knowledge Sharing Conversations on Toxic Chemicals,
Pollution and Health
Research activity: Community Knowledge Sharing Conversations.
Title of Research Project: Feasibility study of community engagement approach to recruitment and retention of marginalized populations in longitudinal biomonitoring research on environmental chemicals.
Researchers
- Erica Phipps, University of Ottawa
- Jillian Ashley-Martin, Health Canada
- Robin Shutt, Health Canada
- Ammanie Abdul-Fatah, Health Canada
Rosemary Aswani, Immigrants Working Centre
- Wasan Mohamad, Immigrants Working Centre
Dodji Ousmame, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic
- Erin Fuller, City of Hamilton Public Health
You are invited to participate in a research project. Before accepting, please take the time to read this document. If you have questions, please contact one of our team at the contact information provided below.
Information for Participants
About the project
The Community Knowledge Sharing Conversations are part of a study led by researchers at Health Canada and the University of Ottawa in collaboration with the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, the Immigrants Working Centre and City of Hamilton Public Health.
The purpose of the study is to find ways to make health research on environmental chemicals more inclusive, useful and without harm for equity-deserving communities.
The Community Knowledge Sharing Conversations are for current residents of Hamilton who identify with populations that have historically been excluded from research and conversations about environmental chemicals and health. This includes people who identify as Black or racialized community members, newcomers to Canada, and people living on low income.
What you are asked to do:
- Participate in an online one-hour Community Knowledge Sharing Conversation with 8-15 other Hamilton residents and members of our research team via MS Teams.
- Share thoughts or concerns you may have about pollution/chemicals and health
- Explore what it would be like to participate in an environmental health research study, including potential motivators or barriers.
- Share ideas on how such studies could be more inclusive and beneficial for communities.
The session will be audio-recorded for research purposes. Registered participants will receive the meeting link by email. Participants will be invited to have their cameras on during the session.
Potential concerns:
- There could be some stress related to talking about the pollution/toxic chemicals and effects on health.
- There could be stress or discomfort from sharing your views/ideas with other participants and/or members of the research team.
Addressing the concerns:
- If you experience stress or discomfort during the session, please let us know. We will have a support person available. We can also refer you to a relevant agency for support, if requested.
- We will not use your name in any reports or presentations.
- You will be invited to fill out a questionnaire at the end of the session. This is a way for you to share views and ideas that you may not be comfortable sharing in the group.
Potential benefits of participating:
- You will have a chance to learn about environmental health research in Canada and ways that chemicals/pollution can affect health.
- You may feel good about helping to find ways that environmental health research can better serve communities such as yours.
- You will receive an honorarium (gift card).
- You may enjoy the opportunity to meet others in your community and members of the research team.
Voluntary participation:
Participation is voluntary. You are free to leave at any time without needing to give a reason.
Confidentiality:
- Your name will not be connected to what you say.
- The audio recording and your completed questionnaire will be accessible only to researchers at the University of Ottawa (E. Phipps and 1-2 research assistants).
- The transcription (typed out version) of the recording and a summary of participants’ responses to the questionnaire, with all names removed, may be seen by the research team members listed above.
- All materials will be kept in a locked cabinet or on password protected Internet-based platforms (DropBox, NVivo, SurveyMonkey) for five years. After five years, the data will be sent to the University of Ottawa archives where it will be protected and stored indefinitely.
Use of information:
Information and ideas shared during a Community Knowledge Sharing Conversation may be used in:
- Report(s) to Health Canada on ways to improve environmental health research to better serve equity-deserving communities
- A summary report to be shared with the community
- Presentations at professional conferences or other events
- Publications such as scholarly articles, journals or books.
In all cases, the information will be summarized in a way that will not personally identify anyone. Your name will not be used. Some information about you, such as your age or gender, may be used alongside written quotes about your views and experiences.
Use of information:
You will receive a $20 honorarium for your time participating in the session.
Funding and support of the research:
This study is funded by a contract issued to the University of Ottawa by Health Canada.
For more information, please contact:
- Erin Fuller, Hamilton Public Health, erin.fuller@hamilton.ca
- Erica Phipps, University of Ottawa, ephipps@uottawa.ca
Consent
I give the researchers permission to use the information I share during the Community Knowledge Sharing Conversation, and on my Registration Form and Questionnaire, for the purposes outlined above.
If the research team wishes to use my information for other purposes, such as a follow up study, they will contact me to obtain consent at the phone number or email I provided on my Registration Form.
If you have questions or concerns about research ethics related to this study, please contact the University of Ottawa Research Ethics Board at 613-562-5387 or ethics@uottawa.ca.
The ethics reference number is S-09-23-8690.
Legal rights and signatures:
I consent to participate in a Community Knowledge Sharing Conversation as part of the study described above. I understand the nature of this project and I wish to participate. I am not waiving any of my legal rights by agreeing to participate.
How to sign up
Complete a Registration Form online at https://forms.office.com/r/CFEV4Z7mpzk
Or scan the QR code below with your mobile device.
We look forward to your participation. If you have given us permission to contact you, we will send a reminder a few days before the event.
If you have questions or if you need to cancel your registration, please contact:
- Erin Fuller, Hamilton Public Health, erin.fuller@hamilton.ca
- Erica Phipps, University of Ottawa, ephipps@uottawa.ca
The study has been approved by the University of Ottawa’s Research Ethics Board [Certificate S-09-23-8690].
ALL LOCATIONS
Main Site
-
8 Main St. E. Ste. #101
Hamilton, ON L8N 1E8 - 905-529-5209
Downtown East
-
100 Main St. E. Ste. #210 & 250
Hamilton, ON L8N 3W4 - 905-529-5209
East Mountain
-
1119 Fennell Ave. E. Ste. #234
Hamilton, ON L8T 1S2 - 905-529-5209
Hamilton East
-
160 Centennial Pkwy North #7
Hamilton, ON L8E 1H9 - 905-529-5209
SUBSCRIBE
Subscribe to our newsletter and don't miss out on all the great info.
Charitable registration number: 132518192RR0001
