Midwifery Study (Students)
Student Survey
Thank you for your interest in participating in the Canadian Midwifery Study.
Below are statements which describe different stages in the Midwifery Program. To participate, PLEASE CLICK ON THE STATEMENT BELOW which best describes your CURRENT stage in the midwifery program.
- I am currently taking classes or I have just finished my classes but have NOT completed ANY placements (clinical).
- I have completed at least one clinical placement or I am near the end of my first clinical placement.
- I have just graduated or will graduate in the next month.
- I am currently on a leave of absence and…
About the Survey
Why is this study being done?
We are hoping to determine the reasons students stay in the Midwifery Education Program (MEP) and learn more about your experiences in the classroom and placement. We are also interested in your views on provincial policies and practices that may affect your experiences.
What am I being asked to do?
You are being asked to participate in an online survey that focuses on your experiences in the MEP. The survey will take approximately 10-25 minutes to complete, depending on your responses.
What are the benefits of participating in this study?
This study will not benefit you directly but we hope it will contribute to a better understanding of why students stay or leave the MEP and what factors influence their decisions. We hope to be able to identify some of the more common reasons students leave the program in order to suggest changes to the MEP potentially resulting in higher retention of students.
What are the risks of participating in this study?
Risks to participating in this study are minimal. You may feel some discomfort related to some questions being asked, but you can choose to skip any questions you do not want to answer. You can also answer only some of the questions and still remain in the study.
Will I be paid to participate in this study?
If you agree to take part in this study you will have the opportunity to enter a draw for one of three $50 eGift cards. If you are a winner, your eGift Card will be emailed directly to you.
What will happen to my personal information?
The researchers will collect your email address, sex and year of birth. Information related to your sex and year of birth will be combined to describe the study participants as a group. Your email address will be used to enter the draw for the eGift Card. We will also be requesting your email address at the end of the survey for two additional reasons.
In addition to this online survey, we would like to learn more about your experiences over time and would like to have your email address in order to invite you to complete three additional online surveys at the following time points – after your first placement, at graduation and after your new registrant year.
The second reason is to offer you more information about a follow-up interview which focuses on your experiences as a midwifery student.
Any contact information we collect from you will be stored separately on a password protected file on a password protected computer in the Research Coordinator’s office and will only be linked to your survey by a unique study number. The only people who will have access to both your email address and your unique study number will be Dr. HakemZadeh and the Research Coordinator, Jennifer Plenderleith. Once contact information is no longer needed it will be deleted. Your survey responses will be stored on a password protected computer at McMaster University. The data will be kept for 10 years and then destroyed. At no time will the information you share be identified by name in the study.
Please note that the researchers will not collect or use internet protocol (IP) addresses or other information which could link your participation to your computer or electronic device without informing you first.
Can participation end early?
Your participation in the study is voluntary. Your decision whether or not to be part of the study will not impact your educational status in the Midwifery Education Program in any way. You are free to withdraw from this study at any time without consequence. You may quit the survey at any time and by clicking on the exit and clear button at the bottom right of your screen. By choosing to exit the online survey none of your survey responses will be collected or stored. However, once you complete and submit the survey, because of the nature of the survey generator (Lime Survey), it is impossible to remove your responses because we will not know which completed survey is yours.
How can I get information about the study results?
If you are interested in reading a summary of the study results they will be available on our study website under study results. Results will also be published in peer-reviewed journals and a final report showcasing our results will be created and posted on our website.
If I have questions about the study, who should I call?
If you have questions about this study, please contact the Research Coordinator, Jennifer Plenderleith, at 905-525-9140 ext. 20089, or Dr. Derek Lobb, McMaster University 905-525-9140 ext. 22482.
This study has been reviewed by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (HIREB). The HIREB is responsible for ensuring that participants are informed of the risks associated with the research, and that participants are free to decide if participation is right for them. If you have any questions about your rights as a participant, please call the Office of the Chair, Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board at 905-521-2100 ext. 42013.
