Why is this research being done?
The purpose of the research is to test the stability of a newly developed questionnaire that measures data related to the food and nutrition-related health and wellbeing of teachers. Previous research in teacher health and wellbeing is limited in its consideration of food and nutrition-related factors and their potential contribution to an individual’s overall health and wellbeing. The data from this study will create a baseline database to inform a pilot intervention to enhance the food and nutrition related health and wellbeing practices of teachers.
Who can participate in the research study/trial?
Participants must be a current resident of Australia, 18 years of age or older, and have access to the internet. Participants must be currently employed as a classroom teacher in a secondary school in Australia, and willing to use their professional (school) email.
Participants whose responses to the recruitment questionnaire do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be admitted to the study.
If you would like to participate, please click here to complete the recruitment survey.
What will study participants be asked to do? What does the study involve?
If you would like to be a part of the longitudinal teacher food and nutrition study you are asked to complete the recruitment questionnaire that will ask you to provide your full name, professional (school) email address, and the current school you teach at.
All participants will be screened to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria. Those participants that match the criteria will be added to the study list.
The Teacher Food and Nutrition Questionnaire will be sent out to participants at four different time points across the coming year with specific dates and questionnaire details provided in the full Participant Information Statement.
The online questionnaire is completely confidential. We will need to ask you to provide your name and professional (school) email address so that we can match your responses over time. However, any identifiable information will only be known to the research team, and you will not be named or identified within any of the research outcomes with all data de-identified prior to analysis and reporting.
There are no anticipated risks associated with participating in this research.
However, some of the questions deal with potentially sensitive issues such as reporting on your dietary intake, levels of professional burnout and stress as well as personal wellbeing. In the unlikely event that you find any of the questions upsetting, you can discontinue at any time.
You may also wish to contact your local GP or your staff health or counselling services unit at your school or organisation. It is also possible to try the national counselling service helpline of Beyond Blue which is available 24/7 to offer advice and support via telephone (call 1300 22 4636), webchat and email (email response provided within 24 hours).
What you need to do to participate
Please read the participant information statement in its entirety and be sure you understand all the information provided before you agree to participate.
If there is anything you do not understand, or if you have questions,
contact chief investigator Laurate Professor Clare Collins at clare.collins@newcastle.edu.au
or student researcher, Tammie Jakstas at tammie.jakstas@uon.edu.au
If you would like to participate, please click here to complete the recruitment survey.
An email with a link will be sent to your nominated email address for each of the four questionnaire time points, with a fortnight at each time point to complete your responses. Please know that for each questionnaire time point, reminder emails will be sent to those participants who are yet to complete or those with incomplete responses only on day 5, day 8 and the morning of day 12.
If you miss a questionnaire time point, you will not receive any future emails as it will be assumed you no longer wish to remain within the study.
As this information sheet is provided in an electronic form, you are encouraged to retain a copy for your reference.
Completion and submission of the recruitment questionnaire will be taken as your implied consent to participate.