Fqstudy.info

This form is for adolescents aged 13-17 to understand more about the study and indicate their willingness
(“assent”) to participate. If you are an adolescent, please read this form and sign on the last page if you
are willing to participate.
Note:
In accordance with California law, if you are a teen, we will not report pregnancy, birth control use,
abortion, or drug and alcohol use to your parent/guardian.
Purpose of this study:
Beatrice A Golomb, MD, PhD and her colleagues at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) are
conducting a research study to find out more about the possible side effects (such as tendon, muscle and
joint pain, sleep, cognitive, behavioral, mood, and sensory effects) of fluoroquinolone antibiotics (such as
Cipro (ciprofloxacin), Levaquin (levofloxacin), Avelox (moxifloxacin), Tavanic, Zymar, and Ciloxan).
This study is open to participation by all those who have taken fluoroquinolones and speak the English
language. The study includes questionnaires for both those who have experienced side effects of
fluoroquinolone medications and those who have taken and tolerated them without side effects. Roughly
up to 10,000 people will be asked to complete questionnaires.
You are invited to participate in this study if you have taken fluoroquinolones (FQs).
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to:
1. Register for the study. This allows you to be given an individualized link to each survey. Using your individualized link, you can take a break and restart a survey from the screen where you left off, for up to 2 weeks after starting the survey. Those who tolerated FQs may choose to directly take a questionnaire without registering. Those contacting the study office by email, phone, or postal mail will likewise receive links, though the links might not allow for resuming a questionnaire. 2. Fill out one or more questionnaires either online or in writing asking you about your experience taking FQs. Each questionnaire may take up to 40-90 minutes to complete, depending on the individual. They may take less or more time depending on your side effects. You should only complete questionnaires designated appropriately to your experience of tolerance / side effects with FQs. There are currently 3 questionnaires for those who may have experienced adverse effects from FQs. The total time commitment for people completing all 3 questionnaires is up to 3.5 hours. There is currently 1 questionnaire for those who have tolerated FQs, requiring 20-30 minutes. More questionnaires may become available in the future. Each questionnaire may be completed separately, so as to spread out the total time commitment. Participation in each questionnaire is voluntary. Questionnaires will inquire about your medical history, including possible risk factors that might relate to development of FQ problems, history of FQ use, symptoms (if any), impacts on your life, and contact information for further follow up. Your assent is necessary to participate in the survey. All questions are optional. If you do not feel comfortable answering any particular question, you may choose to skip it. However, the more complete the information, the better our results may be. If you agree to participate in this study, you might be asked to: 1. Receive a phone call verifying the information that you provided. 2. Be contacted by our staff if further clarification of information from your completed questionnaire is needed.
Benefits:
There may not be any direct benefit to you from participation in this study. However, the findings may be
of help to future patients on fluoroquinolone medications or for whom treatment with FQs is being
considered. The study may provide valuable new information about side effects of FQs, addressing many
of the questions we (the investigators) are often asked by patients. Thus, we may learn more about how
serious the effects can be, how often (and how completely) the problems resolve when the medication are
stopped, how long it takes for improvement to occur, whether certain fluoroquinolones or doses are more
or less likely to cause problems, and whether any treatments are reported to help the problems. The
research is intended to be used in publications that will help educate health care providers about the
effects of fluoroquinolones, and to help both patients and doctors make the best decisions regarding use
and treatment.

Risks:
Risks of participation are minimal, and are those risks associated with completing any questionnaire.
Loss of confidentiality is a possible risk, but we take pains to limit this risk, as described in the
confidentiality section below.
As an additional risk, it is possible in filling out these questionnaires that you may experience boredom or
annoyance or possibly recall emotional experiences perceived as unpleasant. If you find yourself having
unpleasant feelings and you wish to discontinue a questionnaire, you may take a break or stop at any
time. The study is not tied to any particular group outside of UCSD, either online or in-person, and your
relationship or status within online or in-person groups will not be affected by your participation or lack
thereof.
Confidentiality:
Data collected in the study will be stored by the company Qualtrics. Qualtrics meets the privacy
requirements on health care set records by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA). Only study personnel who have signed confidentiality agreements and the UCSD Institutional
Review Board will have access to any information provided and no identifying information will be
published. Research records will be kept in a locked cabinet and confidentiality will be maintained to the
extent provided by the law. In any written reports or presentations, only general results will be reported
and no individual participant will be identified. All feedback and comments submitted throug
questionnaires will be anonymous when shared in publications or presentations. Alternatives to participation:
The alternative to participation in this study is to not participate. Participation is voluntary/Discontinuation of participation:
Participation in this research is entirely voluntary. All questions and items in the associated questionnaires are completely voluntary, and individual questions may be skipped if desired. However, the more complete your information is, the better our survey can identify discoveries and report information. You may refuse to participate or withdraw at any time. If you would like to discontinue,
close your browser window. If you would like your submitted material to be withdrawn, you may contact
us to have your records destroyed.
Costs:
There are no costs associated with participation in the study.

What if you are injured as a direct result of being in this study:
If you are injured or become ill as a direct result of this research study, you will be provided with medical
care.
For questions or problems:
If you have any questions, or research-related problems, you may contact the UCSD
Fluoroquinolone Study via email at [email protected] or telephone at (858) 558-4950 x201. You
may call the University Human Research Protections Program Office at (858) 657-5100 for more
information about rights as a research subject or to report research-related problems.
The electronic version of the “Experimental Subject’s Bill of Rights” will be made available before the
start of each questionnaire, and it may be accessed at:
http://irb.ucsd.edu/Bill_of_RightsEnglish.pdf
By signing below, you are indicating your willingness (“assent”) to participate in the study. You agree that you understand that your responses will be held in accordance with U.S. Federal laws regarding privacy of health information. You agree that the purpose and general nature of the study has been explained to you. You also know whom to contact for any additional information (email [email protected] or telephone (858) 558-4950 x201). Please print and retain a copy of this agreement for your records. ______________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Print Name Please ensure that your parent’s name and phone number appear below. ____________________________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Name (______) ________ - _________________ Parent/Guardian Phone Number
This form along with a form “Parent Consent for Child to Act as a Research Subject” that has been
signed by a parent should be mailed to:
UCSD Fluoroquinolone Study
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept. 0955
La Jolla, CA 92093-0995

Source: http://www.fqstudy.info/Fluoroquinolone_Effects_Study/Special_Situations_files/Adolescent%20Assent%20to%20Act%20as%20a%20Research%20Subject.pdf