What's involved in recording my data during the data collection period?

There is a small amount of data to record for each patient. The research team recommends you record this once a day in the HomeoStats program.  

The steps to take:

1. Log into HomeoStats
2. Create a new patient record - or retrieve an existing record
3. Record the name of the complaint, the remedy and potency prescribed at that visit
4. Save the record

How long will it take?

The research team estimates it will take 3 to 5 minutes to set up a new patient in your HomeoStats account. Once a patient is set up in your account, 1 to 2 minutes will be spent in updating their data each visit.

Instructional videos are provided to help guide you in using the HomeoStats program. All support materials are on the survey home page https://aurumproject.org.au/survey-2018.

If you require any assistance please contact us, or call The Aurum Project on (02) 9905 9415 during business hours Monday - Friday.

Are there risks?

The researchers believe that the small risks in participating in this research are outweighed by the benefits. Currently there are no studies that show the practice landscape for homeopaths in Australia. This research will NOT evaluate the way you practice. 

The researchers have identified that there is a small financial risk to your practice through loss of time in participating in the research and the potential loss of patients who might withdraw from your services through feeling coerced to participate in the survey.

The researchers have no way of estimating the extent of this type of financial risk to you if you participate. The research team believe this risk is negligible, and that the trust and empathy that homeopathic practitioners establish with their patients minimises the potential for such risks. It is important your invitation to your patients to participate in this survey, is written in a way that it is easy for them to say no if they do not wish to participate, with 'no hint of coercion or disfavour'.

Patients leave a clinic for any number of reasons and as practitioners we have no way of knowing why they move on, whether it be by positive outcome in their health or because of seeking assistance elsewhere.

The researchers believe that the risk to your practice is minimised by you explaining clearly there is no expectation that they participate. To participate means allowing you to use some of their clinical data in the survey. This data is de-identified so that your patients are never personally identified in publications or reports on the research. Your patients can withdraw from the survey at any time before March 22nd 2019. After this date any patient data that remains in HomeoStats will be included.

Who will know the results of the survey?

All aspects of the survey, including results, will be strictly confidential and only the investigators named above will have access to information on participants, except as required by law. A report of the survey may be submitted for publication, but individual participants and their patients will not be identifiable in such a report.

Can I withdraw from the survey?

Participation in this survey is entirely voluntary. You are not obliged to participate, and you can withdraw at any stage during the course of the survey. Whatever your decision, it will not affect your relationship with the researchers. Any data you do provide to the survey will be used in the data analysis helping to describe the extent of homeopathic practice in Australia.

What if I have further questions?

When you have read this information, if you wish to discuss it further with the research team use this form.

Any person with concerns or complaints about the conduct of this research study can contact the Secretary, Research Ethics Administration, Endeavour College of Natural Health (HREC@endeavour.edu.au). This project's ethics approval number is HREC20181005