INFORMATION SHEET AND INTRODUCTORY LETTER
Re – Patient satisfaction as a measure of quality in Australian after-hours telehealth services
Dear,
Thank you very much for agreeing to participate in this survey.
This is a study being conducted by a team of researchers that include Assoc. Prof. Chris Ifediora (Griffith University School of Medicine and Dentistry) and Prof. Karen Trimmer (University of Southern Queensland). Other researchers in the team are Dr. Obinna Ifediora (University of Queensland), Dr. Adewuyi Ayodele (University of Southern Queensland), and Mrs. Claire Carpenter (a Registered Nurse based in the Tweed Area of New South Wales).
The survey is reaching out to all patients in Australia who received a telehealth doctor’s consultation in an after-hours period within the one-month period of July 2023. This questionnaire has been sent to you because records show that you, or someone in your household, used the service at this time.
By evaluating the satisfaction levels and other parameters among patients that received treatments in telehealth services within Australia, this work aims to evaluate the quality of the service, and seek ways to improve its delivery in Australia. Your response will help in achieving these objectives.
Kindly note that your participation is voluntary. Strict confidentiality will be maintained throughout, and all responses are anonymous. Neither the researchers nor your telehealth service provider has a way of knowing who agreed or declined to participate. Therefore, should you choose to decline, such a decision will not affect the continued after-hours telehealth services available to you in the future, or your relationship with the Griffith University.
Please, also be aware that the researchers do not have direct access to your contact details. Rather, the telehealth company that has attended to you sent out these questionnaires to you on our behalf.
Ethical clearance has been obtained from the Griffith University Human Research Ethics Committee, with reference number:
The survey is expected to take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Apart from this time consideration, no risks or discomforts are anticipated from taking part.
On completion of the study, a summary of the results will be available on request to all participants, and can be sent to you if so desired. Such a request can be made by writing to the email address below.
The collated, anonymized data and computed results will be stored in the Griffith University Research Storage Service in the active phase of the research. Afterwards, this will be moved to the Griffith Archive Storage system, and will be kept a duration consistent with the University’s regulations.
If you have any concerns with this study, please contact Assoc. Prof. Chris O. Ifediora (MBBS, MPH, FRACGP, HMS-SEAL, AFANZAHPE) through “c.ifediora@griffith.edu.au” or 0755808331. If, however, you have additional questions about the ethics of this research, please contact the Manager, Research Ethics on 07 3735 4375 or research-ethics@griffith.edu.au.
If you wish to continue, please scroll down to provide consent, and commence the survey.