RESEARCH
ARTICLE

This thesis was added
14 July 2002

Contents
Abstract
Contents

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten

Appendix One
Appendix Two
Appendix Three
Appendix Four
Appendix Five

Glossary
Bibliography

.

.

.

The Presenting Symptoms Associated With Arachnoiditis And The Experience Of Living With Them In Everyday Life

A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Nursing at Massey University

by Christine Hopkins - 1998

Appendix Three.

Information Sheet

My name is Chris Hopkins and I am a Registered Nurse studying for my Master’s Degree in Nursing at Massey University. I am proposing to undertake research relating to the symptoms associated with arachnoiditis. To do this study I will need to interview people who believe they have arachnoiditis. I should like to invite you, as a member of ASAMS in the [x] region, to participate in this study. If you wish to take part, could you please forward your name and a contact phone number to:

                                                            The Secretary

                                                             ASAMS

                                                             [x] St,

                                                             [x].

Your name will then be forwarded to me, along with the names of others who wish to take part. The first twelve people on the list will be selected as potential participants. In the event that one of the selected twelve should, after further discussion, no longer wish to take part, the next person on the list will be selected.

The purpose of the study is to provide a description of the symptoms associated with arachnoiditis as you experience them and of your experiences of living with your symptoms in everyday life.

The information gained from this study will be made available to those with arachnoiditis through the national arachnoiditis support group, ASAMS, and will also be used as an information source for other groups and health professionals.

If you agree to be in the study, you will be interviewed by me (Chris) at a place convenient to you. The interviews will discuss your symptoms and how they have  affected your life. They will also explore whether you have a confirmed diagnosis of arachnoiditis and how that diagnosis was reached, including whether you have had an MRI. Total interview time will be two hours, broken into either two one hour sessions or as is most suited to your needs. Interviews will be held at a place and time suitable to you.

The interviews will be audiotape recorded. You have the right to request that the audiotape be turned off at any time. The tapes will be transcribed by me or by a professional transcriber who has signed a confidentiality agreement. Upon completion of the study your tapes will, by your choice, either be returned to you or destroyed.

Confidentiality and anonymity of participants is an important part of this study. Pseudonyms will be used for all participants. However, because of the small sample size, total anonymity and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.

If you feel you would like to be a participant in this study, these issues can be discussed further with me and again if you have any questions later. You have the right to decline to participate and to withdraw from the study at any time and can refuse to answer any particular questions.

Throughout the study, I can be contacted at Ph [x] between 10 am and 4pm. My thesis supervisor is Charmaine Hamilton. If necessary, she can be contacted at (06) 357 0724 during office hours.