1. Voluntary participation
Taking part is entirely voluntary. You may decline to take part, skip any question you prefer not to answer, and withdraw at any time without giving a reason and without any penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
2. Purpose and use of your information
Before you respond, the research team will explain the purpose of the study, what information will be collected, how long it will be kept and how it will be used. Only information that is necessary for the stated purpose should be requested. Your consent applies to that purpose alone, and the team must ask for your agreement again before using your information for any other purpose.
3. How your information is protected
Your responses are transmitted over an encrypted connection.
Responses are stored securely, and sensitive fields and uploaded files can be encrypted.
Access is limited to authorised members of the research team, and each member holds a role that grants only the permissions they need.
Every access to and change of your data is recorded in an audit trail.
Regular backups are kept to guard against accidental loss.
4. Who can see your responses
Your responses are visible only to the authorised members of the research team responsible for the study. They are not sold or used for advertising, and they are not shared with third parties unless you have been told so in the study information or the law requires it. Where results are published or reported, they are presented in aggregated or de-identified form so that individual participants cannot be recognised.
5. Your rights
Subject to the study protocol and applicable law, you have the right to ask what information has been collected about you, ask for incorrect information to be corrected, withdraw your consent and ask for deletion (except where data has already been anonymised or analysed), and raise a question or complaint with the research team or the approving ethics committee.
6. How to contact us
To withdraw, to exercise any of your rights or to ask about your data, contact the research team that shared this form. For questions about the platform itself, use the Contact Us option in the footer.
7. Your agreement
By continuing to complete and submit the form, you confirm that you have read and understood this policy, that you have had the opportunity to ask questions, and that you agree to take part voluntarily.