Feeling like a REAL RESEARCHER...

Today we are reediting the survey that we put together and its taking a long time.. lol. I wasn’t expecting this process to be so detailed oriented. There are a lot of rules and regulations that one must abide by (these rules and regulations are regulated by the IRB). With any survey that is being conducted, a consent form must be made in order to go over the purpose & risks involved with participating in the survey.
CONSENT FORM:
California State University, Fullerton (CSUF)
CONSENT TO ACT AS A HUMAN RESEARCH SUBJECT
Health Research for Pacific Islanders
Participation in this research study is completely voluntary. Please read this information below and ask questions about anything that you do not understand before deciding if you want to participate.
INVESTIGATORS AND SPONSOR:
Lead Researchers
• Sora Park Tanjasiri
• Ruth Peters-Pak
• Alek Sripipatana
• Toaono Vaifale
• Elena Yandall
Study Location(s):
• Orange County Pacific Islander Festival (OC PIF)
• Pacific Islander Festival Association (PIFA)
Study Sponsor(s):
• Orange County Asian & Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA)
• Weaving an Islander Network for Cancer, Awareness, Research and Training (WINCART)
NAME OF PARTICIPANT: _ ________________________________
PURPOSE OF STUDY: I have been asked to participate in a research project designed to identify factors that determine health coverage for Pacific Islanders in the United States.
PARTICIPANTS: I will be eligible to participate if I am an adult from the Micronesian, Melanesian & Polynesian communities.
PROCEDURES: If I agree to participate, the following will occur: I will participate in filling out the survey to the best of my knowledge that will take approximately 5 minutes.
RISKS: Possible risks and/or discomforts associated with participating in this study include possible feelings of discomfort associated with discussing health related, income and education categories. If I do feel any discomfort, I have the right to discontinue participation at any time.
BENEFITS: The possible benefits I may experience from participating in the survey include: providing significant data specifically on Pacific Islanders; increased involvement in the community; learning about factors that determine health care for Pacific Islanders; talking about a sensitive subject in a safe social environment.
COST/COMPENSATION: Participants are compensated with the benefit of data & research on concerns affecting the Pacific Islander Communities upon the completion of the study.
CONFIDENTIALITY: I understand that my research records will be stored in the following manner: in a locked cabinet in the university research office. The research team, authorized CSUF personnel, the study sponsor, and regulatory entities may have access to my student records to protect my safety and welfare. I understand that any information derived from this research project that personally identifies me will not be voluntarily released or disclosed by these entities without my separate consent, except as specifically required by law.
NEW FINDINGS: If, during the course of this study, significant new information becomes available that may relate to my willingness to continue to participate, this information will be provided to me by the investigator.
IF I HAVE QUESTIONS
For questions about my rights as a research participant, I may contact California State University, Fullerton Regulatory Compliance Coordinator at (657) 278-2327, or the Institutional Review Board (IRB) Chair at (657) 278-2141.
Contact: Sora Park Tanjasiri, DrPH, Department of Health Science
Daytime Phone: (657) 278-4592; Email: stanjasiri@fullerton.edu
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Conflict of Interest
Investigators must satisfy campus requirements for identifying and managing potential conflicts of interest before a research study can be approved. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure that the design, conduct and reporting of the research will not be affected by any conflicting interests. If at any time you have specific questions about the financial arrangements or other potential conflicts for this study, please feel free to contact any of the individuals listed above.
The investigators of this research do not have any financial interest in the sponsor or in the study; this means that they investigators will not be financially affected by the results of the study (positive or negative).
VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION
I understand that participation in this study is voluntary. I may refuse to answer any question or discontinue my involvement at any time without penalty or loss of benefits to which I might otherwise be entitled. My decision will not affect my future relationship with CSU Fullerton. My signature below indicates that I have read the information in this consent form and have had a chance to ask any questions I have about the study. I consent to participate.
___________________________________________________________ ________________
SIGNATURE OF PARTICIPANT DATE
___________________________________________________________
PRINTED NAME OF PARTICIPANT
___________________________________________________________ ________________
SIGNATURE OF INVESTIGATOR DATE
__________________________________________________________
PRINTED NAME OF INVESTIGATOR
SURVEY DRAFT II:
A. Health Care Use
a. What kind of place do you go to most often when you are sick or need advice about your health? AH1
i. DOCTOR/MY DOCTOR
ii. KAISER
iii. MORE THAN ONE PLACE
iv. TRADITIONAL/NATIVE HEALER
v. REFUSED
vi. DON'T KNOW
b. During the past 12 months, how many times have you seen a doctor?
i. times
c. During the past 12 months, how many times have you seen a native/traditional healer? (i.e. Fomai Samoa (Samoan); Kahuna (Hawaiian) ) (pre 39)
i. times
d. During the past 12 months how many times have you been admitted to the ER?
i. Times
e. Do you have/need Prescription Drugs?
i. YES
ii. NO
iii. REFUSED
iv. DON'T KNOW
f. Have you ever been denied care/access?
i. YES
ii. NO
iii. REFUSED
iv. DON'T KNOW
g. About how long has it been since you last saw a doctor about your own health? AH6
i. ONE YEAR AGO OR LESS
ii. MORE THAN 1 UP TO 2 YEARS AGO
iii. MORE THAN 2 UP TO 5 YEARS AGO
iv. MORE THAN 5 YEARS AGO
v. NEVER
vi. REFUSED
vii. DON'T KNOW
h. During the past 12 months, did you delay or not get any other medical care you felt you needed—such as seeing a doctor, a specialist or other health professional? AH22
i. YES
ii. NO
iii. REFUSED
iv. DON'T KNOW
i. Was the cost or lack of insurance a reason why you delayed or did not get the care you felt you needed? AJ20
i. YES
ii. NO
iii. REFUSED
iv. DON'T KNOW
j. When you get written information at a doctor’s office, would you say it is very easy, somewhat easy, somewhat difficult, or very difficult to understand? AJ52
i. VERY EASY
ii. SOMEWHAT EASY
iii. SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT
iv. VERY DIFFICULT
v. DON’T GET WRITTEN INFORMATION
vi. REFUSED
vii. DON’T KNOW

k. What are the reasons you do not have a usual source of health care? (preQuestion 38)
i. Seldom or never sick
ii. Don’t know where to go for care
iii. Can’t find provider who speaks my language
iv. No insurance or lost insurance
v. Focused on native/traditional healer
vi. Other: _____________________
B. Health Insurance
a. How important is health insurance to you?
i. High
ii. Med
iii. Low
b. What Health plan are you covered?
i. Medicaid (aka medical)
ii. Medicare
iii. HMO
iv. Military
v. Other
vi. I don’t know
vii. I DO NOT have health insurance
c. Do you pay any or the entire premium or cost for this health plan? Do not include the cost of any co-pays or deductibles you or your family may have had to pay.
i. Out of pocket
ii. Job pays
d. Do you know what is/not covered in your plan?
i. YES
ii. NO
iii. REFUSED
iv. DON'T KNOW
e. During the past 12 months, was there any time when you had no health insurance at all? AI34
i.
f. For how many months of the past 12 months did you have no health insurance at all?
i.
g. What is the ONE MAIN reason why you did not have any health insurance during those months?
i. CAN’T AFFORD/TOO EXPENSIVE
ii. NOT ELIGIBLE DUE TO WORKING STATUS/ CHANGED EMPLOYER/LOST JOB
iii. NOT ELIGIBLE DUE TO HEALTH OR OTHER PROBLEMS
iv. NOT ELIGIBLE DUE TO CITIZENSHIP/ IMMIGRATION STATUS
v. FAMILY SITUATION CHANGED
vi. DON'T BELIEVE IN INSURANCE
vii. SWITCHED INSURANCE COMPANIES, DELAY BETWEEN
viii. CAN GET HEALTH CARE FOR FREE/PAY FOR OWN CARE
ix. OTHER (SPECIFY)
x. REFUSED
xi. DON'T KNOW
C. Demographics
a. How long have you lived in the United States
i. 0-5 years
ii. 6-10 years
iii. 10+ years
b. What is your age, please? AA2
i.
c. Are you male or female?
i. Male
ii. Female
d. Would you describe or identify your race/ethnicity as.. (Check all that apply (PreQ. 33)
i. Native Hawaiian
ii. Samoan
iii. Tongan
iv. Marsahllese
v. Chamorro
vi. Fijian
vii. Tahitian
viii. Other: _____________
e. Occupation
i. Blue collar (manufacturing, construction, manual labor positions)
ii. White collar (office work,
iii. Not employeed
iv. Under the table
f. Income (range annually)
i.
g. Household Size
i.
h. How many hours per week do you usually work at your main job or business?
i.
i. What is the highest grade of education you have completed and received credit for?
Besides reediting the consent form and the survey we went into detail of what Health Reform is.
Health care reform debates over issues that the current Health Care system is facing. Major issues are: the uninsured and underinsured American citizens, for or against publicly funded health care, costs and the quality of the care that is given to consumers by health providers. Health care reform focuses on changing and reforming the current health care system by debating over these different issues. According to CNN.com, 46 million American are uninsured and 25 million are underinsured; a major reason for this dilemma is the decrease in employers who offer health insurance to cut back on costs.
Health care reform in the United States has been an ongoing struggle for many presidential terms. Debates of what specific issues to reformat has been going on since the Teddy Roosevelt administration. Today’s debate of Health Care Reform is more valid because of the support of doctors, insurance companies and event pharmaceutical manufacturers. Health Care is a very sensitive subject, but once concrete data is available about the problems of the current system, many Americans will be willing to support the progress to a better Health Care.
The current Health Care system that we currently have has not been effective and is in desperate need for reform. Arguments for Health Care Reform are supported by President Obama and the Democratic Party. Obama’s Health Care Reform plan focuses on three main issues: providing more security and stability to those who have health insurance; provide insurance to those who don’t have it and it will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government.” Obama proposes a government-sponsored health insurance program that would be an option for all Americans.
I agree with reform especially during this economic recession that the whole world is dealing with. In order to boost the economy, spending must increase through consumers. To make health care more appealing to consumers, competitive pricing will boost spending on health insurance. Since health coverage is now 16% of GDP and consumer spending is nearly 75% of GDP, wouldn’t it make sense to increase spending through health care?
Arguments against Health Care Reform stem from past socialist ideas of complete control of the government limiting private and public health insurance companies unable to compete. This is a valid argument that was addressed during Obama’s Health Care Reform speech. Obama stated, “They (insurance companies) argue that these private companies can’t fairly compete with the government. And they’d be right if taxpayers were subsidizing this public insurance option. But they won’t be. I have insisted that like any private insurance company, the public insurance option would have to be self-sufficient and rely on the premiums it collects.” Justification for avoiding this specific reform can be forecasted through future setbacks if an option that a government is working with first hand. The theory of laissez-faire comes into play when reform and government intervention takes place. In the theory of laissez-faire, the government is benefiting and not the actual businesses because without government intervention to provide “stimulus” to the economy, recessions and inflation will arise.
Many republicans are against a public option due to the fact that it limits competition for the insurance companies. With an option that can compete with privately owned insurance companies, prices can be more appealing to consumers which in turn possibly can raise consumer spending through health care. As mentioned by President, “My guiding principle is, and always has been, that consumers do better when there is choice and competition.”
Health Care is a universal concern, but when a population is being under represented during a time of reform, there are major concerns. Without specific statistics and data that can provide reasoning and justification for issues affecting the Pacific Islander community, how can reform benefit our population? In the Pacific Islander communities where a wide range of cultures are within, there can be underrepresented populations. I believe that by providing accurate data and specific analysis for Pacific Islanders, Health Care reform can accurately aid and provide the assistance that the Pacific Islander community is dealing with today.
With Health Care reform that provides specific care for our Pacific Islander community, health disparities can be addressed and limited for future generations. So in order for this to be true, research and data must be conducted to effectively identify the health disparities and issues regarding the current health care system. The work that is being done today is a step in the right direction, but there is much work to be done in order to see health care reform.
Today was a LONG but PRODUCTIVE day. I feel that I and Lena are fortunate enough to have another PACIFIC ISLANDER helping and guiding us in the right direction of research. Okay, that’s enough work for one day. See you tomorrow.