Hi,

I am an intern Psychologist currently studying the long term effects of Lap Banding surgery. The purpose of the study is to assist is to improve our understanding of the social, physical and psychological outcomes of bariatric surgery. Our aim is to learn from your experience and find out about any issues that need to be addressed in order to improve the quality of life of people who choose to have lap-banding surgery.

If you have the time, I would really appreciate you partaking in the survey which takes about 30 minutes. All you need to do is click on the attached link and the survey should open up automatically.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8V2cU9TcyFKkWaIOcBFyrg_3d_3d

If you have any issues or suggestions, please feel free to email me

(Email: Kerrie.Woods@student.griffith.edu.au).

Many thanks,

Kerrie Woods.

(Griffith Ethics Code – PSY/B4/08/HREC)

Edited August 19, 200916 yr by KWoods
university email and ethic code provided given below comments

I am sorry to be questioning your motives but I would caution anyone from doing such a survey which may ask you personal questions regarding your health or medical care. We don't know who you are or what you will be using this information for. And saying that this study will help "assist you emotionally, physically and socially - after your surgery " is not a realistic promise. You can't be helping personally all the people who choose to take your survey.

You very well may be doing something with the best of intentions but I am sure that many of the medical experts on this board would question the motives of trawling for survey participants. (especially with a hotmail email address).

Thank you for your comments. I understand your concerns, however I wish to inform you that the ethical aspects of this study have been approved by the Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee (Griffith Ethics Code – PSY/B4/08/HREC), which complies with the National Statement of Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans.

If you have any reservations please feel free to contact via email and I am more than wiling to provide an ethical clearance statement and a 3 page information sheet. As you are aware this site has limited space of which to post information.

Cheers

Kerrie

Edited August 19, 200916 yr by KWoods

Even though I'm not 2-years post op, I tried it out of curiosity. But I couldn't finish it. Mostly because it didn't seem AT ALL relevant. The first long set of questions was about coping with "what has just happened" and seem to be aimed at someone who has just gone thru something traumatic, like the death of a loved one or a divorce. For most of us the band has been a GOOD thing, so these questions are going in the wrong direction. I can see the outcome of this "survey" being totally misconstrued.

Sorry, but the only trauma I've experienced was gaining 70 pounds in the year and a half BEFORE the band.

Edited August 19, 200916 yr by jlray

Thanks for attempting the survey, as mentioned in the survey your thoughts and experiences are valued.

Kerri:

I am glad to see that you have provided some backup for requesting that people participate. You have even changed the original post on this board to be much clearer and different from the original (with a new email address too). Still, as a researcher you should have approached your original ask with the same care and proof you have now provided. But I do appreciate your quick response.