THIS SURVEY IS A REPLICA CREATED AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE ORIGNAL SURVEY FOR PUBLICATION PURPOSES ONLY.
RESPONSES TO THIS SURVEY WILL NOT BE RECORDED AND NO PAYMENT WILL BE PROVIDED. 



Study Title: Medicine Preferences Among Physicians in India
Principal Investigator: Professor Shengmao Cao
Supported By: Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Key Information about this research study
The following is a summary of this study to help you decide whether to be a part of this study. More detailed information is explained later on in this form. The purpose of this study is to examine how physicians make treatment decisions. You will be asked to complete a one-time survey that is expected to take 7-10 minutes.  The primary potential risk of participation is related to privacy and confidentiality. The main benefit of being in this study is Rs 1,000 honorarium as compensation for your time at the end of the survey.

Why am I being asked to take part in this research study?
We are asking you to take part in this research study because you are a licensed physician practicing in India.

How many people will be in this study?
We expect about 500 physicians to participate in this research study.

What should I know about participating in a research study?
Whether or not you take part is up to you. You can choose not to take part. You can agree to take part and later change your mind. Your decision will not be held against you.

What happens if I say, “Yes, I want to be in this research”?
The entire study will take place online. You will be asked 5 questions to determine your eligibility to participate in the study. If eligible, the survey will ask questions about your background, medical training, clinical practice, and the medicines you take for your own treatment. We will also discuss your decision-making process for different medicines.
The survey will take approximately 7-10 minutes. All survey participants will receive Rs 1,000 as an honorarium on the completion of the survey. You may choose to reject the honorarium. 

Will being in this study help me in any way?
We cannot promise any benefits to you from your taking part in this research. We will share the results of the study with leading public health experts and policymakers in your region. Thus, possible benefits include laws and regulations that may be informed by your views.

Is there any way being in this study could be bad for me and how will researchers protect my information?
The primary risk of this study is related to privacy. To minimize this risk, we will not collect information that can be used to identify you. All your responses will be kept in a secure and password-protected server.

What happens if I do not want to be in this research, or if I change my mind later?
Participation in research is voluntary. You can decide whether to participate or not to participate. You can leave the research at any time, and it will not be held against you. If you decide to withdraw from this study, any data already collected from you will be destroyed.  If you do not want to be in this study or withdraw from the study at any point, your decision will not affect your relationship with Northwestern University or Stanford University.

Who will have access to the information collected during this research study?
Members of the research team will have access to this data. Efforts will be made to limit the use and disclosure of your information, including research study records, to people who have a need to review this information. We cannot promise complete secrecy. There are reasons why information about you may be used or seen by other people beyond the research team during or after this study. For example, University officials, government officials, study funders, auditors, and the Institutional Review Board may need access to the study information to make sure the study is done safely and appropriately.

How might the information collected in this study be shared in the future?
De-identified data from this study may be shared with the research community, with journals in which study results are published, and with databases and data repositories used for research.

Will I be paid or given anything for taking part in this study?
You will receive Rs 1,000 via electronic gift card for your participation in this study.
 
  • The gift card will be dispensed at the end of the survey. If you do not complete the survey, then you will not receive a gift card. The honorarium does not depend on your responses. You may refuse the gift card.

Who can I talk to?
If you have questions, concerns, or complaints, you can contact the Principal Investigator Prof. Shengmao Cao (shengmao.cao@kellogg.northwestern.edu; +16073791116). This research has been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (“IRB”) – an IRB is a committee that protects the rights of people who participate in research studies. You may contact the IRB by phone at (312) 503-9338 or by email at irb@northwestern.edu if:
  • Your questions, concerns, or complaints are not being answered by the research team.
  • You cannot reach the research team.
  • You want to talk to someone besides the research team.
  • You have questions about your rights as a research participant.
  • You want to get information or provide input about this research.

If you want a copy of this consent for your records, you can print it from the screen. If you cannot print the consent and would like a copy of your records, contact the Principal Investigator with the contact information above.
 
If you wish to participate, please click the “I Agree” button and you will be taken to the survey. If you do not wish to participate in this study, please select “I Disagree” or select X in the corner of your browser.