Study Title: "Epidemiology of chronic overuse injuries in adult male Gaelic football players"

Principle investigator: Rory McIntyre (student physiotherapist at Leeds Beckett University)

Invitation
You are invited to take part in our new study. This is a final year postgraduate research project at Leeds Beckett University (School of Clinical & Applied Sciences, MSc Physiotherapy). Before you decide whether you would like to take part or not, please read the following information about the study. It is important to ask any questions you may have, and that you are happy with any answers you get before deciding whether or not to participate in this study (Contact details for my supervisor and I are at the end of this Information Sheet).

What is the purpose of the study?
The study aims to get a clearer view of the current state of overuse injuries in Gaelic football. Some studies have described the rate of injury, and the different types of injury in Gaelic football. However, these studies had a limited ability to detect overuse injuries. A new questionnaire has been shown to accurately record overuse injuries, but it has not yet been used in Gaelic football. This study aims to use this questionnaire to find out more about overuse injuries in the sport.

Am I a suitable participant?
We are seeking healthy male Gaelic football players, who are over the age of 18. You will need to spend a few minutes each week during the upcoming season filling out a questionnaire online.

Do I have to take part?
No. It’s completely your decision whether you take part or not. If you do decide to take part, you can keep this Information Sheet, and further instructions are at the bottom of this page. You are free to stop the study at any time during data collection (before the end of September 2018). You don’t need to give a reason for this and there is no penalty. We will honour any requests for your data to be destroyed should you wish. You can do this by emailing me, quoting your participant number, and this must be done before the end of September 2018.

What happens if I agree to take part?
You will need to fill out a short online questionnaire every week until the end of the season. This will ask about how your training may have been affected by injuries that week. It will finish by asking for a short description of any physical problems that may have occurred that week. Each questionnaire should only take a few minutes each week.

What are the benefits?
There are no direct benefits. However, the study will help us understand more about overuse injuries, a big issue currently in Gaelic football. Therefore, you would be making a positive contribution to your sport.

What are the risks?
The study has been ethically approved by the Local Research Ethics Co-ordinator, in line with Leeds Beckett University’s Research Ethics Policy, and I can provide you these documents if you wish. The study was categorised as Low Risk Category 2. Some participants may feel uncomfortable sharing information about their training or injuries.

What if there is a problem?
If you have a question or concern about any aspect of the study, please contact myself or my supervisor, who will do our best to help you. If you wish to make a formal complaint about any aspect of the study, including the investigators, you can contact the Independent Contact Person. All contact details are found at the end of this sheet.

What will happen to the results of this study?
Findings from this study will be used to produce the researcher’s postgraduate dissertation, and may be used in future scientific publications, or conference presentations.

Is taking part confidential?
Yes. Any information you give will be coded. Your participant number (found on the top of this Information Sheet) will ensure participation will be anonymous. We just need your name on the consent form at the start, and your email address to send you the questionnaires each week. This will be kept strictly confidential, and will be stored securely on password protected drives. Only the primary investigator will have access to this drive. In any reports or publications, participants will not be identifiable in any way.

What if I have a complaint?
If you have any questions, concerns or complaints that you wish to discuss with someone independent of the project, please contact:

Mrs Sheila Casey (Quality Assurance & Governance Officer)
HSS Faculty Office, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds beckett University, Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 3HE
Tel: (+44) 01138124312 or email s.a.casey@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Further information
You can contact myself or my supervisor if you have any questions or require further advice about this study:

Rory McIntyre
r.mcintyre7366@student.leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Gareth Jones
Therapeutic and Rehabilitation Sciences
Leeds Beckett University, Portland 620, City Campus, Leeds LS1 3HE
Tel: +44 (0)113 812 25727 or email G.J.Jones@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 

What do I do next?
If you are happy to take part in the study, please click ‘NEXT’ below, and complete the consent form. I will then email you your weekly questionnaire & give you your participant ID number for the study.