Recovery Connections Network

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

September 22, 2018

Opportunity to Participate in Study Measuring the Effect of Higher Education on SUD Counselor Ability to Demonstrate Empathy

Are you a substance use disorder counselor? If so, you are invited to participate in a short online survey that assesses the empathy level for substance use disorder (SUD), commonly referred to as addiction, counselors.

The research hypothesis is that the empathic ability of SUD counselors in recovery is just as effective as graduate-level education in establishing empathy with SUD clients.

The researcher conducting this study is Frances Malcolm Horn-Charnesky. She can be reached by email at frances.horn-charnesky@waldenu.edu. The researcher’s advisor is Dr. Leslie Barnes-Young and can be reached by email at leslie.barnes-young@walden.edu. If you wish to speak privately about your rights as a participant, you may contact the Research Participant Advocate at Walden University at 612-312-1210.

Dear Addiction Professional,

You are invited to participate in a research study that involves assessing the empathy level for substance-use disorder (SUD), commonly referred to as addiction, counselors. The research hypothesis is that the empathic ability of SUD counselors in recovery is just as effective as graduate-level education in establishing empathy with SUD clients. Essentially, this study examines the variables of education status (master’s level or not) with recovery status (in recovery or not) and the ability of SUD counselors to have empathy. You were invited as a potential participant in this study due to your association with the National for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC). To qualify to be in this study, you must be licensed/credentialed as a SUD counselor that primarily works with SUD clients and be at least 18 years old. This form is part of a process called informed consent to allow you to understand this study before deciding to whether to take part. I ask that you read this form and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in the study. This study is being conducted by Frances Malcolm Horn-Charnesky, doctoral candidate at Walden University. The researcher is also a member of NAADAC and is the Regional Vice President of the Northwest Region. This research is completely separate from the researchers role as Regional Vice President of the Northwest Region.

Background Information: The purpose of this study is to gain better understanding of the effect of higher education on SUD counselor ability to demonstrate empathy.

Procedures: If you agree to participate in this study please continue on to the below SurveyMonkey link; by doing so, your consent to participate is implied. If you choose not to participate, no further action on your part is required. You will be asked to complete basic demographic information and will be asked several questions about your emotional response to different situations. The survey should take no more than 30 minutes but may take more.

All information and responses will be confidential; no personal information is asked of you other than education status, recovery status and the years you have been in practice as a SUD counselor.

Voluntary Nature of the Study: Your participation in the study is voluntary and you are free to discontinue the survey at any time even after initially agreeing to participate. There is no penalty for non-participation and there is no compensation for participating. If you decline to participate, no one at NAADAC will treat you differently.

Risks and Benefits of Being in the Study: There are no physical risks to being in this study. As this study does ask about your recovery status and about your perception about potentially emotional experiences, you may experience some emotional discomfort; this should not pose significant risk to your health or well-being.

The only benefit to participating in this study is knowing that you have potentially contributed to unique research about the relationship of SUD counselors’ education and recovery status with the ability to establish empathy with SUD clients. Risks associated with participating are potential emotional discomfort.

Confidentiality: Reports coming out of this study will not share identities of participants. The researcher will not use any information from this study for any purpose outside of this study. Your name is not attached to the information that you provide; not even the researcher will know if the information pertains to you. Data will be kept for a period of at least 5 years per University policy; data will be kept on a secured flash drive accessible only to the researcher.

Contacts and Questions: The researcher conducting this study is Frances Malcolm Horn-Charnesky. She can be reached by email at frances.horn-charnesky@waldenu.edu. The researcher’s advisor is Dr. Leslie Barnes-Young and can be reached by email at leslie.barnes-young@walden.edu. If you wish to speak privately about your rights as a participant, you may contact the Research Participant Advocate at Walden University at 612-312-1210.

Walden IRB approval number for this study is:_08-24-18-0404885 and it expires on 8-23-2019. Please print this email for your records.

Statement of Consent: I have read the above information. I have asked any necessary questions and received answers. I consent to participate in the study. If you believe you understand the study well enough to make a decision about participation, please continue to the survey via the weblink.