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Participant Information Sheet
Study title: Exploring barriers to alcohol reduction in mid-life men
Research Team
Dr Emma Davies, Emma Rouse & Professor Richard Cooke
Contact details: email edavies@brookes.ac.uk telephone number: 01865 543808.
You are being invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide whether or not to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully.
What is the purpose of the study?
Alcohol consumption among mid-life men is a growing concern in the UK, with one in three now drinking at levels that could increase future health harms. The aim of our study is to understand how we can support men who would like to make changes to their drinking habits.
We are aware that alcohol use can be a difficult topic to talk about. The research team includes people aged 40-65 who themselves drink alcohol, and/or have experiences of making changes to their drinking. We would like to reassure you that we are here to listen and learn from you and your experiences.
Why have I been invited to participate?
We are inviting men aged 40 and 65, who currently reside in the UK to take part. We are interested in hearing your views if you currently drink alcohol regularly or you used to drink alcohol in the recent past (up to two years ago) but no longer do so.
Do I have to take part?
No, giving your permission and taking part in the study is entirely voluntary. If you decide to take part, you will be asked to give your consent before starting the study. If you decide to take part, you are still free to withdraw at any time without providing a reason. Any data collected from you can be withdrawn up to the point of analysis by contacting the researchers. Analysis will begin one week after each session takes place.
What will happen to me if I take part?
If you decide to take part, then you will be a member of a focus group, with up to five other people. This will take place either on Zoom or in person and will be audio recorded only (we will not record a video of the session).
During the focus group, the following things will happen.
-At the start the researcher will introduce themselves and ask you to introduce yourself to the other people in the group. You can use your real name or use a made-up name if you prefer.
-We will ask you to share your views on common reasons for drinking in mid-life men.
-We will also ask you to share your views about things that may help or make it hard for men who decide that they want to reduce their alcohol consumption.
-You do not have to share your own experiences if you do not wish to. You can share your general views on this topic.
-You do not have to answer any questions you do not want to and can leave the focus group at any time.
The focus group is likely to last between 45-60 minutes and we will provide you with a £30 shopping voucher afterwards as a gesture of thanks for your kind participation. If you attend a face-to-face group then we will provide tea/coffee and a snack.
Are there any risks involved?
It is possible that once you have taken part in this study you might have questions or want information about your own or someone else’s drinking. You can find support at the following webpages
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help-now
You can also get help and advice from your own doctor (GP) or by phoning Drink line, a free, confidential helpline for people who are concerned about their drinking, or someone else's. Call 0300 123 1110 (weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 11am–4pm)
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
There are no individual benefits to you, but if you choose to take part then you will be helping to us to understand how to help other men to reduce their alcohol consumption if they chose to do so.
Will what I say in this study be kept confidential?
If you participate in the focus groups, then your contributions will be heard by the other people in those sessions. We will ask that you do not share anything that is discussed outside of those sessions. We will audio record the focus groups so we can analyse the data afterwards. Once we have transcribed the sessions the audio recordings will be deleted, and any identifying details will be replaced in the transcripts. As we are only talking to a small number of people, then there is a small risk that someone could identify you from something you say. However, no identifying information will be included in any of the written work resulting from the study.
What will happen to the results of the research study?
The results of this study will be presented at an online event in January 2026 and summarised in blogs and media articles. They will also be written up for publication in an academic journal and presented at a conference.
We will also put an anonymised data set in a repository, such as the Open Science Framework to assist with future research on this topic.
All the data collected from this research will be kept in keeping with the University’s policy of Academic Integrity. This means that all data will be securely stored in paper or electronic form for a period of 10 years when the project is finished.
In addition, you will be able to see a summary of the research findings after the end of the project (after December 2025) by contacting Emma Davies on edavies@brookes.ac.uk
Who is organising and funding the research?
The project is being conducted by researchers at Oxford Brookes University and Staffordshire University. It has been funded by the Centre for Psychological Research at Oxford Brookes University.
Ethical Approval
This study has been reviewed by Oxford Brookes University’s Research Ethics Committee (UREC committee number:241837). If you have any concerns about the way in which the study has been conducted, you may contact the Chair of the Oxford Brookes University Research Ethics Committee on ethics@brookes.ac.uk
What should I do if I want to take part?
If you have read this information and would like to be involved then please email the researcher on edavies@brookes.ac.uk or phone the researcher on 01865 543808.
Who can I contact if I have any questions?
Please ask the lead researchers, Dr Emma Davies or Professor Richard Cooke if you have any questions or want further information about this study. Our contact details are at the top of this page.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read this information sheet
Dr Emma Davies Emma Rouse and Professor Richard Cooke
March 2025
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