This page gives you more information about the pilot study I am a part of.
In any official study, particpants must be given all the facts about the study so that they can give informed consent. After you have read the information at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to the consent form, that needs to be signed if you decide to take part. Please note there is no obligation to do so and it will not affect the therapy in any way if you prefer not to take part. If you are unable to print the consent form off, please do not worry as I will have copies with me at the clinic or can send you one that you can sign electronically.
Pilot study for the use of MYCaW® in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
Participant Information Sheet and Consent Form
We would like to invite you to take part in our voluntary research study. Before you decide, it is important that you understand why the research is being done and what it would involve for you. Please take the time to read this information and discuss it with others if you wish. If anything is not clear, or you would like more information, please ask us.
What is the purpose of this study?
CPHT, the training school for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH), are testing the use of a questionnaire called MYCaW® (Measure Yourself Concerns and Wellbeing) to see how well it fits in with the structure of SFH sessions. The aim is to see if it would be suitable to collect information in the future that would show how well SFH works.
MYCaW® is a validated questionnaire and is approved by NHS_England.
Why have I been invited?
All potential clients over the age of 18 attending this clinic will be invited to participate in this study. We are hoping to recruit around 5-10 participants per clinic over a 6-month period. This recruitment period may be increased if more data is required to reach a meaningful decision on its use.
What will happen if I decide to take part?
If you decide to take part, the therapy will be conducted in exactly the same way, you will just be asked some extra questions at the Initial Consultation and then at every fourth session, and at the final session. These questions should add approximately 5 minutes onto each of these sessions. You will also be asked to agree to being contacted after 3 months, 6 months and 1 year to answer the same questions for follow-up information.
At the Initial Consultation you will be asked to think about your concerns and score how much they are bothering you. Where 0 is the lowest or best score, your concern not bothering you at all, and 6 is your worst/most severe score, your concern is bothering you greatly. You will also be asked to scale your general wellbeing from 0 – 6 in the same way.
At every fourth session and at the final session, you will be asked to scale those concerns and your general wellbeing again. You will also be asked to write in the questionnaire anything else in life that you think may be affecting your health, and finally, reflecting on your time with the therapist, what has been the most important aspect for you.
If you choose not to take part, your therapy will be conducted in the same way, just without the extra questions.
Are there any possible disadvantages or risks from taking part?
SFH is a very positive therapy, and you will be asked to focus on what is good, rather than on the problems in your life. However, there is just a very slight risk that answering the questions may cause you to think negatively for a moment or two.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
There will be no direct benefit to you in taking part. It is hoped that the results of this study will show that MYCaW® is a useful tool for collecting data that in turn can show how well clients do with this therapy.
Will my taking part in the study be kept confidential?
Both your therapist and CPHT will treat your personal information and your study data in a strictly confidential manner and according to the General Data Protection Regulations 2018. Your therapist will provide you with a copy of their Data Protection Policy, and the CPHT Research Programme Data Protection Policy can be found here: https://extranet.cpht.co.uk/research-programme-data-protection/
A company called Meaningful Measures operates the licence for MYCaW® and collects anonymised and non-identifiable data to create a database of anonymised concerns/symptoms/activities. This data helps organisations such as CPHT to understand people’s needs. Your MYCaW® data will be fully anonymised and sent securely ONLY to Meaningful Measures Ltd. For more information, please see the website: www.meaningfulmeasures.co.uk
What will happen to my data?
Your collected data will be analysed by Meaningful Measures Ltd and CPHT to assess the usefulness of the questionnaire in SFH sessions.
The data will also be analysed to see how the therapy has helped you to achieve your goals, and what you think of the therapy sessions.
What will happen if I don’t want to carry on with the study?
If you do not wish to carry on with the study, please advise your therapist and no further data will be collected. We would ask that your collected, anonymised data be left in the database, but if you wish to have your data erased, then your therapist can easily do that for you.
Your care will not be affected in any way by your wish to withdraw from the study.
What happens at the end of the study?
The data will be analysed by Meaningful Measures Ltd and CPHT and may be presented at conferences and published in academic journals, but it will not be possible to identify your individual data.
The data will be erased after 10 years.
What if we find anything unexpected?
It is highly unlikely to happen, but if answering the research questions produces anything unexpected, you will be referred to your GP for medical advice and any medical treatment if required.
What if there is a problem?
If you have a problem with the way the study has been conducted, you should first discuss this with your therapist.
Your therapist is insured and is in regular contact with a supervisor.
Your therapist belongs to the following professional association(s) and follows their professional code(s) of conduct and ethics:
- The Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists (AfSFH)
- The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH)
- The Complimentary & Natural Healthcare Council(CNHC)
Who is organising and funding the study?
The study is organised and funded by CPHT. Your therapist is not being paid for including you in the study.
Your therapist details:
Name: Jenny Mellenchip
Address: Stem Cell Clinic, 13 Lichfield Road, Stafford, ST17 4JX
Email: jenny@jennymellenchip.co.uk
Phone number: 07748 511841
Thank you for reading this information and for considering whether to take part.