Participant information

Before you decide whether or not you wish to take part in this study, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take the time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. There is a summary of the study on the last page.

  What is the purpose of this study? 

In Australia, female GPs are leaving the workforce at increasing rates. This study aims

• To explore the reasons why Australian female GPs choose to retire from clinical General Practice

• To identify personal and professional threats to wellbeing that influence their decision to retire

• To explore the perceptions of Australian female GPs on potential interventions to address wellbeing and workforce retention

 Why have I been invited to take part in this study? 

We are approaching you because you are a GP who is planning to retire or has retired within 5 years. We are hoping you can help us understand why women GPs retire from practice, particularly at this time.

What if I don’t want to take part in the study or I want to withdraw later?

Taking part in this study is voluntary. It is completely up to you if you would like to take part or not. If you decide not to take part, it will not affect your relationship with the RACGP, or any of the Universities involved.  

If you wish to stop taking part in the study once you have started the survey, you can do so at any time without having to give a reason. You can refuse to answer any question. No new information will be collected or used after you have stopped taking part in the study.

What does this study involve?

You are being asked to take part in a survey which is likely to take 20-30 minutes to complete. You are welcome to exit and save the survey to come back later if you wish. If you choose to, you can leave your email address at the end of the survey, and you may be invited to attend an interview.  

Interviews will be arranged at a time that suits you, and will be conducted over zoom. The interviews will involve you talking about your experience in General Practice and your reasons for retiring. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed for later analysis.

 

How is this study funded?

The study is being sponsored by the RACGP Foundation. You will be receive a $100 gift voucher if you participate in an interview

Are there risks to me in taking part in this study?  

While this study includes talking about your decisions and your work, we aim to limit any risks to you. You are welcome to choose an interviewer from the research team, who makes you feel comfortable. You are also welcome to take a break at any time.  Your participation in the study is private and information will be de-identified. 

Who is organising this research?

This research is being conducted by: 

Louise Stone (GP academic, University of Adelaide),

Megan Cahill (CEO and academic, ANU),

Erin Walsh (Academic researcher and science communication artist, ANU),

Karen Price (GP academic, Monash University),

Michelle Barrett (GP academic, ANU)

Members of the research team will not receive a personal financial benefit from your taking part in this study. The research team members declare no personal conflict of interest relevant to the undertaking of this study. 

How will my confidentiality be protected?

Any identifiable information that is collected about you, your practice, or your patient in this study will remain confidential. Your identifiable information will be disclosed only with your permission, or as required by law. Only the researchers named above will have access to your details. Interview data will be held securely at the ANU on a password protected computer and a locked filing cabinet. Data will be stored for at least 5 years.

Privacy note 

Australian privacy law requires the research team to tell you how we will handle your private information. You can ask the research team to give you more details of how we will handle your private information. You can ask the research team to find out what information we have about you, and to fix it if it is wrong. 

In collecting your personal information within this research, the Universities involved must comply with the Privacy Act 1988. The University of Adelaide Privacy Policy is available at https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/62/ and it contains information about how a person can: 

·      Access or seek correction to their personal information; 

·      Complain about a breach of an Australian Privacy Principle by the University of Adelaide, and how they will handle the complaint. 

 What happens with the results? 

Data you provide will be de-identified and summarized by the research team. The final results will be presented in a series of published articles. In any publication, information will be provided in such a way that you, your patients, or your practice cannot be identified.  

 What should I do if I want to discuss this study further before I decide?  

When you have read this information, the research team will discuss it with you and answer any questions you may have. If you would like to know more at any stage, please contact Louise Stone Email: louise.stone@adelaide.edu.au 

Who should I contact if I have concerns about the conduct of this study? 

This study has been approved by the ACT Health Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocol xxxx). If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study, and do not feel comfortable discussing this with study staff, you may contact the Committee secretariat who is nominated to receive complaints about research projects. You should contact the ACT Health Human Research Ethics Committee secretariat on 6174 7968 or acthealth-hrec@act.gov.au  

Thank you for taking the time to consider this study. If you wish to take part, please send an email to Louise Stone at louise.stone@adelaide.edu.au