So I’ll usually bring it up at the end of the exam when the forensic nurse is going over discharge paperwork. I usually say something like this: “So, we at SAFE have partnered with the University of North Carolina. The folks there are working on something called the RISE study, and its a research study that is totally optional for you to participate in. The reason we partnered with them is because their objective aligns with our goal which is to reduce the effects of trauma and PTSD symptoms in sexual assault survivors. The way that the RISE folks are studying this is by creating an app that you can download onto your smart phone and they will send you surveys that you can complete. It’s totally optional how many surveys you do—its up to you. You can opt in and opt out but there’s an opportunity that you can be compensated for your time. You can receive up to $608 per year depending on how surveys you complete and this money is paid to you by way of a prepaid gift card. If you decide that it is something you are interested in, it does add about 45 minutes to an hour to the time you spend in the clinic, so if that sounds like something you want to do, let me know and I’m happy to set it up for you.”
Example Pitch
“We are participating in a research study with UNC that has developed an app for smartphones that includes mindfulness/therapeutic check-ins. Researchers are trying to see if using this app decreases the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder following an incident like the one that brought you in today. It is completely optional, and it can add anywhere between 20 minutes, to an hour and 20 minutes to our time today, but they usually try to keep it around 45 minutes. If you want to find out if you’re eligible, we can schedule a time later for you to speak with a research assistant. They are going to ask you questions that are a bit similar to the questions I ask you–not those of sensitive nature, but just like contact information, name and things like that–and unfortunately I am not able to provide them the answers for you. If you decide you do want to speak with them and they determine you are eligible, you can receive up to $608 for participating.”
