Univ. of New Brunswick study

[ronr]

This is a two part study concerning your first-hand account on how living with fibromyalgia has impacted your relationship and well-being.

Part 1
Researchers at the University of New Brunswick and Saint Thomas University are conducting a study on intimate relationships and well-being in people living with fibromyalgia. We are interested in hearing your first-hand account on how living with fibromyalgia has impacted your relationship and well-being.

If you are a man or woman aged 19 or over, have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and are in a romantic relationship of at least 12 months, you can participate in this study. However, we will not be able to include people with certain serious illnesses. Since the interview and questionnaire can be done over the telephone, the study is open to all persons living in Canada.

By participating, you will complete a background questionnaire and participate in a digitally recorded individual interview with an interviewer of your own gender. The interview will take approximately 1.5 hours. Participation is voluntary and all information you choose to share will be kept confidential. All participants will receive a $50 gift card as compensation for their time.

If you would like to participate or would like more details about the study, please contact Dr. Pablo Santos Iglesias at (506) 451-6996, or at psantos@unb.ca. Please note that phoning or emailing to get more information about this study does not obligate you to participate. This research is on file with the Research Ethics Board, #2013-14.

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Part 2
DOES YOUR SPOUSE/PARTNER HAVE FIBROMYALGIA?

A team of researchers at the University of New Brunswick, led by Dr. Sandra Byers, are conducting research about relationship and sexual well-being of men and women who have a partner with fibromyalgia. We are interested in hearing your first-hand account of how your partner's fibromyalgia has impacted your relationship and sexual well-being.

If you are a man or woman aged 21 or over who is in a romantic relationship of at least 12 months and your spouse/partner has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you can participate in this study. However, we will not be able to include people with certain serious illnesses.

By participating, you will complete a background questionnaire and participate in an audiotaped individual interview. The interview will take approximately 1.5 hours. To compensate you for your time, you will be given a $50 gift card.

If you would like to participate or would like more details about the study, please contact Dr. Pablo Santos Iglesias at psantos@unb.ca, (506) 451-6996.

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Having plenty of issues this morning [oh shirt it's nearly 1:00] that I can not post their logo but will work on it  late today or tom.

[foxgrove]

Wow!!!  You mean we can make some money by talking!!  WahoooooOo!!    It's not like I don't have time to spend and a mouth that flaps, right?? 

Thank you thank you thank you!!  That was an awfully nice early birthday present you're sending me.  Only 9 days early. 

[Maxx]

With the Internet reaching all over the world and services like Skype, I wonder why they don't want participants from outside Canada?

[foxgrove]

On a side note.. the call for volunteers went out January 19th and it's past the end of this school year.  I have a few calls in to folks there to find out if it's still ongoing or if they have met their quota.  I'll update y'all once I know.

Not sure why the specificity of Canadian patients but it may also be culturally critiqued or possibly a study funded by the Canadian government... they like to see results from their own populace for some reason.

[foxgrove]

Just got word back from the Professor & Chair of the Department of Psychology... the person whose study it is... It is most certainly a go!!!  I urge all Canucks here to go ahead and contact them.  As Ron posted above, the contact information is: Dr. Pablo Santos Iglesias at (506) 451-6996, or at psantos@unb.ca.

Here's the text of the info I got back from my inquiry.  
Thank-you so much for contacting me and for your willingness to participate in our research.  As you can see I received your email and I also received your telephone message.  You have definitely reached the right people.  We are still looking for people with FM as well as their partners for our research.  Dr. Santos-Iglesias  is coordinating participant recruitment and he can provide you with more information.

[looneylane]

I will check it out.

[foxgrove]

A little more information for y'all.  It seems that this is the first study with at least one more study being done in the near future.  Especially important is they need men.  We seem to be in short supply but I know that we're really not... just short on information!

Dear Paul Smith,

Thanks so much for your interest in our study. As Dr. Byers mentioned, we haven't been really successful in recruiting male participants. We would like you and your friends to be part of our study, that would help to have a better understanding of relationship and sexual well-being in couples living with FM. You can forward your friends my contact information and the message below.

For our study we will ask you to complete a brief questionnaire with some background information about your, your relationships, and your fibromyalgia. Right after that, we will conduct an interview about your fibromyalgia and relationship/sexual well-being. The interview will last for an hour and in return you will get a $50 gift card to compensate for your time.

We can do a face-to-face interview at UNB campus in Fredericton (NB), or a telephone interview (that will be recorded). Whatever works best for you! I'd love to set up a time to interview you. I am available at anytime next week except Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. Please, let me know your preferences. If you do you have a preference in terms of the gender of your interviewer we will make sure to accommodate you.

Further, I would like to point out that this study is part of a program of research. Right now we are conducting a qualitative study doing the interviews. We are conducting a similar study with FM patients' partners (if interested, partners are welcome to participate), and in about a month we will start a quantitative study with FM patients in which our participants will be required to complete an online survey. If you are interested, you (and your partners) can participate in all the studies. That will help us to complete a program of research that would be helpful to gain a better understanding of FM and relationship and sexual well-being.

Sincerely,

Pablo Santos Iglesias

[Robby]

Is this still just for Canadian people, or have they opened it up since they need men so much?

[foxgrove]

Interesting that you should ask.  About 10 minutes ago, I sent a note back to Pablo with that very same question.  I'll let you know for sure as soon as I find out!

[DEL]

A gift card for a conversation about my reality certainly seems fair...!

[looneylane]

Yep I offered to take part just have to send him a date and time.

[foxgrove]

OK.. I just got a response from Pablo as follows:

Hello Paul,

The study we are conducting right now is exclusively for fibromyalgia patients in Canada. Our next quantitative study that will start in about a month will be open to USA and further abroad (e.g., UK).

Thanks!

Pablo Santos

So, not for the first one but it looks like a big yes for the next study!  I'll let everyone know as soon as I hear more.

[Robby]

Thanks