What the study is about
The purpose of this research is to examine the experiences with and perceptions of the healthcare field from individuals who identify as members of the BDSM community. We are researching health risks associated with specific BDSM activities, experiences with health care providers, and perceptions of the medical field. Participation is completely voluntary. If you agree to participate, you can always change your mind and withdraw. There are no negative consequences, whatever you decide.
What we will ask you to do
We will ask you to complete several surveys about physical and psychological injuries that may have been obtained in the course of participation in BDSM activities and their treatment. We will also ask you questions about your perception of the healthcare community and experiences you’ve had receiving mental and physical healthcare. We expect the survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.
Risks and discomforts
· Some questions may be personal or upsetting. You may experience discomfort recalling past injuries and/or negative health care experiences.
· You can skip any questions you don’t want to answer, or stop the survey entirely.
· Online data being hacked or intercepted: This is a risk you experience any time you provide information online. We’re using a secure system to collect this data, but we can’t completely eliminate this risk.
· Breach of confidentiality: There is a chance your data could be seen by someone who shouldn’t have access to it. We’re minimizing this risk in the following ways:
o No identifying information is being collected, so your name cannot be linked to your survey responses.
o Only members of the research team will have access to the survey results
Benefits
Though there is no direct benefit to participants in this study, there are benefits to the BDSM community. We hope to learn more about the experiences members of the BSDM community have had with medical and mental health care providers. Information from this study may benefit other people in the future, as the information will be used to make recommendation to the medical and psychological community.
Compensation for participation
Participants will be given the option to enter into a drawing for one of four (4) $25 Amazon gift cards. Entry into this drawing is optional, and contact information for this drawing is not linked to individual survey responses.
In the unlikely event that you suffer an injury or illness directly related to your participation in this research project, upon your request, Midwestern University will arrange for the provision of treatment for such injury or illness at the closest medical facility. Payment for such treatment will be your responsibility, although your commercial insurance carrier, if any, may pay all or part of the medical expenses that you might incur. Midwestern University will not pay any monetary compensation for research related injury or illness or pay for treatment outside any MWU-affiliated Hospitals or Medical Centers. You are not waiving any of your legal rights by volunteering to participate in this study.