[Chemar]

message from Mathew Curtis at Univ SoCal

Hello,

I am a researcher at the University of Southern California. I am currently conducting a short online survey about how people think about and cope with illness. It is hoped the results of this study will improve understanding of how people deal with illness and assist the medical profession in improving their support of future patients. I am especially interested in having people with multiple sclerosis take part in the study.

People who have already taken part in the study have reported the study to be interesting. Typically, people have mentioned that the study encouraged them to think about their illness and that this reflective thinking was helpful to them.

If you wish to learn more about this study, which takes about 20 minutes to complete, please click on the link at the bottom of this email. Everyone who takes part in the study will be entered in a lottery; the winner of this lottery will receive a check for $200. We are expecting about 500 people to complete the study. Therefore your chances of winning the prize are 1/500.

Link to study
http://www.psychexperiment.net/616/box.php

If you know other people with multiple sclerosis who may like to take part please pass on this link to them.
To take part in the study you must be at least 18 years old.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Thank you for your time,
Mathew Curtis
mcurtis@usc.edu
Psychology Researcher

DocJohn has approved this message

[Twinkletoes]

Okay, I did it!

Wonder what I'll do with that $200 prize???

[barb02]

Rochelle, I am going to get the money I thought some of the questions were strange.

Barb

[Blessings2You]

I wonder how many of my answers would have been different had I done the survey earlier in the day...?

[lady_express_44]

I had a hard time with some of the questions too, because it is too hard to generalize our state of mind with a R/R or fluctuating disease such as MS.

I think it should have given options like "sometimes", "rarely", etc., rather then "strongly agree" & "strongly disagree".

Cherie

[Chemar]

Mathew will, I am sure, be returning to this thread for discussion.
That's a real important point IMHO re responses depending on how one is feeling at the time.

Anything that can point Doctors to having clearer understanding is something worthwhile I think.
thanks a lot to those who choose to participate.

[AfterMyNap]

The money is mine, all mine!

I agree, the instrument is not well-focused and does not allow for the varying reactions dependent on how long we've had MS. I see where he's trying to go with it but I'm rather indifferent toward the whole MS experience after all these years, where, 20 years ago, I'm sure my reactions would have been far more distinct. The "story" has happened to me dozens of times and honestly, I just talk to the person like another person. The scenario presumes that we'll have some absolute reaction to it. Nada, here.

*adding $200 to account balance*

[tovaxin_lab_rat]

I got the impression it wasn't disease specific.

Already spent $200!

[Abbie]

I was sent a request to participate in this survey also... It was sent from a friend at USC who was asked to send it to anyone they knew with a disease or illness....

I noticed this part at the very beginning:

Please only participate in this study if you are currently ill. By currently ill we mean suffering from some sort of illness or disease. The severity of this illness can be relatively minor such as the common cold to something more serious such as cancer or AIDS.


I have a feeling that many more people will be responding than the 2000 they are expecting...... they have four $200 lottery winners.

[lady_express_44]

Originally Posted by Abasaki

Please only participate in this study if you are currently ill. By currently ill we mean suffering from some sort of illness or disease. The severity of this illness can be relatively minor such as the common cold to something more serious such as cancer or AIDS.

We are always "currently ill" and "suffering from disease" . . . or at least I am. The answers though, are dependant on how active the disease is at the moment, even though it always affects my life.

Cherie