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Visits

What does participation in this study involve?

All your questions should be answered to your satisfaction before you decide whether to participate in this research study. Please take your time in making your decision.  You may find it helpful to discuss it with your friends and family.

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Your participation in this study will last from the day you provide consent to participate until 2-3 months after discharge from the hospital after delivery of your baby. 

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Participation in this study involves:

  • Up to 3 study visits taking place during your normal clinical visits with your doctor or midwife

  • Completion of study questionnaires (taking ~ 30 min at each study visit)

  • Collection of urine, umbilical cord blood, and samples of the placenta after delivery of your baby

  • Review of your medical record

  • Optional completion of a satisfaction survey 2-3 months after delivery of your baby

Study overview figure_edited.jpg

What types of questions will I be asked?

You will be asked to complete questionnaires throughout the course of the study. The number and type of questionnaires that you will be asked to complete will vary depending on when you enroll.

 

The purpose of each questionnaire is described below:

  • Introductory Questionnaire: The purpose of this questionnaire is to collect information about you, your health history, and your second-hand exposures to cannabis and tobacco. This questionnaire will also include a modified version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and questions regarding any withdrawal symptoms you may have experienced during pregnancy. This questionnaire will be done at your first visit and it will take about 10-15 minutes to complete.

  • Pregnancy History Questionnaire: The purpose of this questionnaire is to collection details on your pregnancy history. This questionnaire will be done at your first visit and it will take about 5-10 minutes to complete.

  • Baseline Substance Use Questionnaire: The purpose of this questionnaire is to collect information on substance use during pregnancy. This includes cannabis, nicotine, opioids, opioid agonist therapy, alcohol, and other prescription or recreational drugs. This questionnaire will be done at your first visit and it will take about 5-45 minutes to complete.

  • Follow-Up Questionnaire: The purpose of the questionnaire is to collect information about changes to your health since your last visit. This questionnaire will also include a modified version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and questions regarding any withdrawal symptoms you may have experienced since your last visit. The questionnaire will take about 5-10 minutes to complete. You will be asked to complete this twice (at your second and third visit) if your first visit was done before 28 weeks gestation. If your first visit was after 28 weeks gestation you will be asked to complete this once.

  • Follow Up Substance Use Questionnaire: The purpose of this questionnaire is to collect information on how your substance use has changed since your last visit. This includes cannabis, nicotine, opioids, opioid agonist therapy, alcohol, and other prescription or recreational drugs. It will take about 5-45 minutes to complete. You will be asked to complete this twice (at your second and third visit) if your first visit was done before 28 weeks gestation. If your first visit was after 28 weeks gestation you will be asked to complete this once.

  • Satisfaction Survey: The purpose of this survey is to collect information about your experience as a participant in this study and get feedback on things that could be improved. It will also as you about your interest in future research projects. You will be asked to complete this survey once, at 2-3 months postpartum. It will take about 5-10 minutes to complete.

Image by Glenn Carstens-Peters

Will my participation in this study and possible substance use be kept confidential?

 

Yes!
Your participation in this study is both voluntary and confidential.

 

Taking part in this study is voluntary. If you choose to participate you may choose to leave the study at any time. Whatever you choose, it will not affect the usual medical care that you receive outside the study.

 

Taking part in this study is confidential. Results from the urine drug screening will not be provided to you, your doctor, any Children’s Aid Society (CAS) case worker, other health care provider(s), law enforcement, your or your child(ren)’s educational institution(s), friends, or family. These reports will not be added to your medical records and only delegated research personnel will have access to these results. Questionnaire answers, including disclosure of substance use, will not be provided to you, your doctor, any CAS case worker, other health care provider(s), law enforcement, your or your child(ren)’s education institution(s), friends, or family. This information will not be added to your medical records and only delegated research personnel will have access to

Pregnancy Checkup

Can you choose to leave the study?

You can choose to end your participation in this research (called withdrawal) at any time without having to provide a reason. If you choose to withdraw from the study, you are encouraged to contact the research team. 

 

You may withdraw your permission to use information that was collected about you for this study at any time by letting the research team know. However, this would also mean that you withdraw from the study.

 

If you do not wish for your samples or data to be used in this research anymore, you may request to have your data and samples destroyed. However, samples will not be destroyed if they have been used up in their entirety or if they have been shared with a 3rd party. In addition, data cannot be removed from previous publications or presentations. However, it can be excluded from future analyses. Let the research team know if you choose this.

Pregnant Woman with Mother
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