Information in Video Format
AdaptQoL Participant Information Sheet – Audio/Video version script
We’d like to invite you to join our new research project called AdaptQoL. The full title of the project is: Adaptation and Quality of Life: Development of a patient-reported outcome measure for people who use assistive technologies and other adaptive interventions
This study is about understanding how assistive technologies affect people’s health and quality of life.
Assistive technology is a broad term which refers to many different devices and aids which help people to do everyday tasks that might otherwise be difficult or impossible because of an impairment. These types of aids and devices tend to fit into 5 categories:
Mobility aids (things like wheelchairs, walking sticks and prosthetic limbs)
Cognition aids (things like memory aids and personal digital assistants)
Communication aids (things like text-to-speech software, captioning apps and eye-tracking devices)
Self-care and daily activity aids (things like shower chairs, adapted cutlery, and toilet frames)
And Sensory aids (things like hearing aids, screen readers, and white canes)
The term ‘quality of life’ can mean lots of different things, such as happiness, life satisfaction and well-being. We want to know what quality of life means to you, and the ways assistive technology can impact and improve your life.
We will use the information you provide to help create a new survey tool, called AdaptQoL, which will be used by assistive technology providers, like the NHS, to measure the benefits of different devices and aids.
With your help we will make sure that the AdaptQoL tool is accurate and reliable.
We have invited you to take part in this study because your assistive technology provider or your support service felt that you might be eligible to take part. There are few criteria we will check to make sure that your eligible to take part, these are:
Whether you have had a long-term impairment which resulted in you using assistive technology
Whether you are able to communicate in English or Welsh
And whether you are aged 18 or older, able to understand the project and able to provide consent
If you return a completed questionnaire to us, we will check your answers to make sure you are eligible to take part in an interview. Unfortunately if you do not meet all of these criteria we will not be able to interview you.
In the interview, we’ll talk about what quality of life means to you, how assistive technology affects your day-to-day life, and how we can best measure the benefits of different aids and devices.
The interview will take up to one hour- it can be done online, by phone, or even in-person if that works better for you. You’re welcome to have a friend, partner, or carer join you in the interview.
We will record the interview if you tell us that’s OK with you. If you need any extra support, like sign language, just let us know.
You will receive a £20 Amazon voucher for taking part in an interview
Taking part is completely your choice- and if you do decide to take part, you can stop at any time, for any reason. It won’t affect your care in any way.
We don’t expect there to be any risks to you if you decide to take part, but some topics about your health and quality of life might feel personal- you don’t have to answer anything you’re not comfortable with.
Please take your time to consider taking part, you can get in touch with us if anything is unclear or if you want to know more. You may also want to discuss the AdaptQoL project with your family and friends or a health care professional before making a decision. If you have any questions please contact the AdaptQoL using the details on screen (email adaptqol@banor.ac.uk or phone 07792670053).
If you’d like to take part, simply fill in the questionnaire and consent form you received with your study invitation- If you received a paper questionnaire please post it back in the prepaid envelope, or you can complete our online questionnaire using the QR code or link provided with your invitation. One of our team will then get in touch to arrange your interview.
Thank you for considering taking part in the AdaptQoL project. Your experiences could help improve how the NHS and social care understand and support people who use assistive technology.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more visit the website or contact us directly (email adaptqol@banor.ac.uk or phone 07792670053).
We look forward to hearing from you!