DESCRIPTION:
You are invited to participate in a research study. As a WELL Mini-Intervention participant, you will be invited to take part in small interventions of short duration that target specific healthy behavior changes. The purpose of the interventions is to better understand how small behavior changes of short duration can influence aspects of well-being in the short term, and influence motivation for behavior change maintenance. The WELL for Life Initiative aims to identify factors that contribute to wellbeing and health. The WELL for Life Initiative has been created by the Stanford Prevention Research Center in the Stanford University School of Medicine.
As a WELL Mini-Intervention participant, you will be invited to make a specific behavior change for a short period of time, typically one week. Behavior changes could include, for example, omitting added sugars from your diet, adding more fiber, or practicing mindfulness while eating. You will also be asked to complete short daily surveys and a post-intervention survey asking about the effect of the intervention on aspects of your wellbeing, such as sleep, energy, your social connectedness, lifestyle, stress, resilience, emotions, physical health, creativity, etc. You will have your choice of having the links to the online surveys sent to you via email or text message. If you opt for a text message, you will be charged a text message fee by your service provider, in accordance with your phone plan.
We will be using publically available social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to engage participants about the mini-interventions, and may invite participants to share their challenge experience by posting photos, videos, or messages. Engagement with our social media sites is voluntary and is not required for participation in the study.
TIME INVOLVEMENT:
You will be asked to participate in each intervention for approximately one week. This is the amount of time that we will ask you to implement a specific behavior change. During this time, we will also ask you to complete a daily survey and a post-intervention survey, requiring a total of one hour to complete. You have the option to participate in additional mini-interventions as they become available. We anticipate that we will continue to offer mini-interventions to 2099, and we welcome your continued involvement for as long as you can take part.
RISKS AND BENEFITS:
The risks associated with this study are minimal and we do not expect any negative effects from participating. We follow federal, state, and Stanford University regulations to protect your information. If some of the survey questions make you feel uneasy, you can choose to skip them. While loss of confidentiality is a risk, we take great care to protect your information. The goal of the WELL for Life Initiative and of the mini-interventions is to learn how to promote living well. We cannot and do not guarantee or promise you will receive any benefits from the mini-interventions. However, the mini-interventions are designed with the intention of enhancing well-being, and all participants will receive instruction on how to participate in the mini-interventions. By participating, you will also contribute to the health and well-being of your community.
Participants and potential participants will be invited to join a public Facebook group that will offer tips, tricks, and social support to contribute to a successful challenge. Membership and participation in this Facebook group is completely optional, and any information you share in this group may be seen by other members of the Facebook community. Please refrain from sharing confidential information or other information not related to the challenge, nutrition, or wellbeing.
PAYMENTS:
You will not be paid for participating in this study. There is no cost to you for participating in this study, other than the time it takes you to complete the surveys. If you opt to receive online survey links via text message, you will also be charged a text receival fee by your service provider in accordance with your phone plan.
SUBJECT'S RIGHTS:
If you have read this form and have decided to participate in this project, please understand your participation is voluntary and you have the right to withdraw your consent or discontinue participation at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. The alternative is not to participate. You have the right to refuse to answer particular questions. You have the right to not join or participate in the associated Facebook group. Your individual privacy will be maintained in all published and written data resulting from the study.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Questions: If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this research, its procedures, risks and benefits, contact the Protocol Director, Christopher Gardner at (650) 725-2751 or the Protocol Co-Director, Sandra Winter at 650-723-8513.
Independent Contact: If you are not satisfied with how this study is being conducted, or if you have any concerns, complaints, or general questions about the research or your rights as a participant, please contact the Stanford Institutional Review Board (IRB) to speak to someone independent of the research team at (650)-723-5244 or toll free at 1-866-680-2906. You can also write to the Stanford IRB, Stanford University, 3000 El Camino Real, Five Palo Alto Square, 4th Floor, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
Please print a copy of this page for your records
If you agree to participate in this research, please click the button that says "I agree to participate." You will then be contacted via email with further instruction about how to participate in the WELL mini-intervention.