All patients at Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) facilities, regardless of their race, ethnic background, disease type/condition, geographic location, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, beliefs and abilities have the right to participate in and benefit from science advancement.
PHSA conducts and supports world-class research as part of its mandate to improve the health system and the health of British Columbians.
At BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, we recognize that research is an important part of what we do to improve care and that research requires participation from a diverse population to make research findings generalizable and more applicable to clinical care.
We are committed to ensuring that all patients are contacted in a respectful capacity about research opportunities that require their consent and may be of interest to them.
Information access and privacy
Respecting your privacy is a key priority. Access to patient information for the purpose of informing patients about research opportunities is strictly controlled and limited to internal studies that have obtained both research ethics board approval and institutional approval from BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre.Information is shared only with approved research teams and only in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (BC FIPPA).
Oversight of this process is provided by the Right to Participate Initiative team, established by the Women’s Health Research Institute (WHRI) and BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute (BCCHR), the dedicated research arms of BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre and BC Children’s Hospital. For inquiries, please contact
rtp@cw.bc.ca.
To send research opportunities that may be most relevant to you, PHSA may use your or your child’s contact information, including:
- Your/your child’s name
- Your/your child’s home mailing address
- Your/your child’s email address
- Your/your child’s phone number
PHSA may also have access to additional information to help determine whether a study is relevant to you or your child, including:
- Your/your child’s demographic information (such as gender, sex, race, ethnicity, and age)
- Your/your child’s diagnosis
BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre is committed to respecting personal privacy, safeguarding confidential information, and ensuring the security of personal information in its custody or under its control.
Personal information is managed in accordance with the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and PHSA’s established privacy and security policies. If you have questions about privacy or how your personal information is managed under this initiative, you may contact the PHSA Privacy Office at
privacy@phsa.ca.
Study recruitment
PHSA conducts research activities as permitted by law. If you or your child are eligible, you may be approached in the following ways:
- During a clinic visit: You or your child may be approached by a research team member during a clinic appointment.
- During a hospital stay: You or your child may be approached by a research team member while admitted to the hospital.
- Outside of the hospital: You may be contacted after leaving the clinic or hospital. Invitations to participate in research may be sent by:
- Phone calls, after initial information has been sent by mail, email, or text message
Consent
Participation in research that requires your consent is always your choice. Your written consent may be required before you take part in a research study.
Choosing not to participate will NOT affect the care you or your child receives at BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre.
Before making your decision, you are encouraged to:
- Be fully informed
- Ask questions to understand the research study
- Take the time you need to think about participation
- Discuss the study with a family member or your doctor, if helpful
Each study is different. A study team member will explain the purpose of the research, the potential benefits, possible risks, and what the study aims to learn.
Who to contact with questions
All questions about a specific study should be directed to the study coordinator listed in the study invitation or consent form.Questions about how your personal information may be used to support research activities can be directed to
rtp@cw.bc.ca. If you have questions about privacy or how your personal information is managed under this initiative, you may contact the PHSA Privacy Office at
privacy@phsa.ca.
Things to keep in mind
If you choose to take part in a research study, remember:- Participation is always your choice
- You may change your mind at any time
- You will always receive the best possible care whether you choose to participate or not
