Nat returns

Title of Study : “Why go back to being Clark Kent, when I can be Superman?” Motivations and issues surrounding AAS use & cessation.
Participant Information Sheet

1. Invitation to take part in a research study.

You are being invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide whether or not to take part, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. Ask us if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Please take time to decide whether or not you wish to take part.

Thank you for reading this.



2) What is the purpose of the research ?

The purpose(s) of the study are to:

i) Examine the motivation of current and former AAS users.


ii) Understand some of the psychological issues associated with AAS use and withdrawal.


3) Why is the study being done ?


There has been recent research looking at the demographics and motivations of current AAS users (Smith, Hale, Rhea, Orlich & Collier, in press) but research with former users has been lacking. There has also been minimal research on the difficulties that are thought to be experienced on stopping steroid use.

The study aims to look at these issues to help to better understand some of them and perhaps enable more sufficient coping and support mechanisms to be created.

4) Why are you being asked to take part ?

We are keen to gain an honest, and first hand account of AAS use and feel that it is important to ensure that anyone taking part has sufficient experience of these issues. It is also a chance to gain an understanding of a subculture that is often negatively represented within the media.

5) Do I have to take part?

You do not have to take part in this study. If you do wish to take part, it should be a voluntary decision taken only after being fully satisfied with the level of information given to you about the study.

If you decide to take part, and later change your mind, you are free to withdraw at any time without giving any reason. You would also be free to take any relevant personal data with you if you decided to withdraw from the study, and this data will not be included in the research findings.

If you do decided to take part, you will be asked to sign a consent form agreeing to participate in the study. A copy of this, along with an information sheet will be given to you.


6) What will happen to me if I agree to take part ?

You will be asked to complete a brief questionnaire, taking no more than 10 minutes. You will be asked, as part of the questionnaire, whether you would be prepared to be interviewed at a later date. You do not have to consent to taking part in the interview. If you do consent, you may not be chosen, as only a limited number of people will be required. If you are invited to attend the interview it will be an informal interview with a researcher lasting no more than 90 minutes. The interview will consist of a series of questions related to your experiences of AAS use. The interview will take place in a neutral setting to be agreed at a later date. The interview will be recorded on a Dictaphone, however only the researcher will have access to the recordings, and they will only be used to clarify some of the issues covered within the interview.


7) Are there any disadvantages or risks in taking part ?

As steroid use is often a sensitive issue, we will adhere to confidentiality, anonymity, and data protection legislation. You will not be able to be identified from and of the data that we use, and we will adopt a pseudonym should we decide to use a direct quote in the written research.

On transcribing the interviews, all Dictaphone recordings will be destroyed.

8) What are the possible benefits of taking part ?

The study will be of benefit to educating others about steroid use and eliminating any media created myths that surround steroids. It may also help us to identify any potential problems people experience when ceasing to use steroids and may help us develop coping strategies that people can use when wanting to withdraw.

9) Who will have access to the data ?

The data will be confidential and will only be used for the purposes of the study. The data will be anonymous with only myself and my supervisor having access to the data.

The data will not be kept longer than necessary, and the Dictaphone recordings will be destroyed after use.

The results of the study may be published within scientific journals in the future, however there will no way of identifying any of the participants involved.

You will also be entitled to obtain a copy of any publication that results from the research. If you wish to have a copy, you can e-mail rebecca.davies3@student.mmu.ac.uk.





10) Who are the members of the research team ?

Rebecca Davies – Principal investigator
Dr Dave Smith – Research project supervisor



11) Who do I contact if I feel my rights have been violated ?

You can contact the Manchester Metropolitan University Ethics Committee at the following address:

The University Secretary and Clerk to the Board of Governors, Manchester Metropolitan University, Ormond Building, Manchester, M15 6BX.
Tel: 0161 247 3400, email: kai.hughes@mmu.ac.uk



12) Who should I contact for further information ?

If you require further information before taking part, you can contact Rebecca Davies at rebecca.davies3@student.mmu.ac.uk.

You can also contact the research supervisor Dr Dave Smith at d.d.smith@mmu.ac.uk.


13) Finally, a thank you !

Thank you for expressing an interest in the study and considering taking part. Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further information.