How will my information be protected?

Participation in this study and information gathered from this study will be treated confidentially to the fullest extent of the law. Answers to the surveys collected at the sessions will be stored on a secure server at Brown University. The data from the app-based surveys will be stored at a hosted data site. We ask that you password protect your phone so that no one can see the types of questions we will ask through the app. Note that even if someone does access your app, they will not be able to see data you entered previously. Bracelet readings will be transmitted to the bracelet manufacturer. This company may view your readings to interpret them for our research, but it will not know your name or other identifiable information.  Encryption, firewalls, and other security measures protect the data and prevent unauthorized access. Identifying information will never be transmitted with survey responses. All participants will be assigned an identification number that will be used to link responses over time. No identifying information will be kept with those responses. Paper files will be coded by this identification number, kept in locked files, and stored separately from identifying information. The findings of the study may be published, but individual participants will not be named.

To help us protect your privacy, we have obtained a Certificate of Confidentiality from the National Institutes of Health. The researchers can use this Certificate to legally refuse to disclose information that may identify you in any federal, state, or local civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceedings; for example, if there is a court subpoena. The researchers will use the Certificate to resist any demands for information that would identify you, except as explained below.

The Certificate cannot be used to resist a demand for information from personnel of the United States federal or state government agency sponsoring the project and that will be used for auditing or program evaluation of agency funded projects. You should understand that a Certificate of Confidentiality does not prevent you or a member of your family from voluntarily releasing information about yourself or your involvement in this research. If an insurer, medical care provider, or other person obtains your written consent to receive research information, then the researchers cannot use the Certificate to withhold that information. The Certificate of Confidentiality will not be used to prevent disclosure to state or local authorities of harm to yourself or anyone else or child and elder abuse.

Locator Contacts. Sometimes we have difficulty reaching participants. One way that we can get messages to participants is through their friends and family. We will ask you for contact information for two people who would know how to reach you over time. When we meet with you to drop off study materials, we may ask you to sign a letter to those individuals explaining that you are authorizing them to give us information needed to reach you. This letter will be kept on file, and we will only send this letter or otherwise contact these people if we are unable to reach you. We will not tell anyone about the nature of this study or any of the confidential responses you have given us.

 (This information is copied from Consent Form B: Full Study, Alcohol Only Users. Version 2.0, date: March 4, 2021)