What does it mean to participate in the RIGHTS Study?

Dr. Steven P. Wallace at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is conducting a research study on the experiences of Asians and Latinos in California.

What will happen if I take part in this research study?

If you volunteer to participate in this study, we will ask you to answer a 15-minute survey. The survey will ask you about things that you may have experienced when seeking health care or other services, going to school or work, or interacting with state and federal officials while living in the U.S. You will NOT have to answer any questions that you do not want to answer and you can end the survey at any time. The answers you provide in this survey will be linked with the information you provided in the California Health Survey. Data from the survey shared with other researchers or in publications will not have identifiable information about you.

How long will I be in the research study?

Participation will involve a one-time telephone survey of about 15 minutes.

Payment

After completing the survey, you will be provided with a $25 gift card.

Are there any potential risks or discomforts that I can expect from this study?

Survey questions may be about things that are difficult for you to talk about or that might make you sad or upset. You do not have to answer questions that make you uncomfortable. Any private information that you share will be kept confidential.

Are there any potential benefits if I participate?

There will be no direct benefit to you from participating in this study. This study will help researchers and policy makers learn more about the challenges that immigrants face in obtaining health care. This information may be used to improve the health of Californians like you and their ability to get needed health care.

Will information about me and my participation be kept confidential?

Any information that is obtained in connection with this study will remain confidential. We will not collect any personally identifying information, such as your name, that could result in your identification.

Information about you is protected by a federal Certificate of Confidentiality. This means that we cannot be forced to release information about you for any legal proceeding, even if a court of law asks.

The Certificate allows us to use information about you for purposes of this research.

There are limits to this protection. The Certificate does not protect your information when:

• You or your family voluntarily release information about yourselves.
• You consent to release of information (for example, the uses described in this form, or if you sign release forms for employment, insurance or medical care).
• The National Institutes of Health, which is funding this study, audits this grant.

What are my rights as a participant?

• You can choose whether or not you want to be in this study, and you may withdraw your consent and discontinue participation at any time.
• Whatever decision you make, there will be no penalty to you, and no loss of benefits to which you were otherwise entitled.
• You may refuse to answer any questions that you do not want to answer and still remain in the study.

If you have questions about your rights while taking part in this study, or you have concerns or suggestions and you want to talk to someone other than the researchers about the study, please contact the UCLA OHRPP by phone: (310) 206-2040; by email: participants@research.ucla.edu or by mail: Box 951406, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1406.