GUIDE FOR RESEARCH ASSISTANTS

You are selected to become part of the research study entitled Goal attainment-based
empowerment and the self-efficacy and health empowerment of chronically older persons as
a research assistant. The study is being conducted by Mr. Paul Froilan U. Garma as an academic
requirement in his masters degree in Nursing (Major in Adult Health Nursing) in the University
of the Philippines Open University under the guidance of Dr. Letty G. Kuan (adviser).

This research assistants guide was conceptualized to delineate your roles and responsibilities,
present the study protocol and data collection procedures. This is divided into five (5) parts
namely Roles and Responsibilities, Data Collection Procedures, Data Management and Storage
and Forms. It is expected that you need to be familiarized with this manual and be guided
throughout the study implementation to ensure validity of results and safeguard the study from
erroneous bias and spurious interpretations.

I. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a research assistant, your primary role is to ensure that the study data collection procedures
are being strictly adhered to and the data remain valid and free from bias.

Specifically, your tasks include:

1. Familiarize with this guide and the study protocol.
2. Participate in the training for data collection.
3. Recruit qualified study participants based on the screening guide.
4. Explain to the qualified study participants their rights and data collection procedures.
5. Function as data collectors on specified time periods.
6. Ensure questionnaires are answered completely, tabulated accurately, stored properly and
endorsed timely to the statistician.
7. Safeguard participants rights on anonymity, confidentiality and other ethical considerations.
8. Directly report to the primary investigator / research coordinator for the progress of the study
and any difficulties/ problems encountered.

You will also be monitored by a designated research coordinator (in this case, a public health
nurse) to evaluate your performance during screening and data collection periods based from
well specified guidelines. This mechanism ensures validity of data and protocol fidelity.
Your requirements as a research assistant include:

1. A resume and a duly-signed contract which will be submitted prior to the start of study.
2. Accomplished questionnaires
3. Field notes
4. Performance monitoring/ time card.

You need to be familiarized with these forms:

1. Research assistants contract. This stipulates your tasks and equivalent compensation.

2. Resume. Your academic and professional profile is reflected in this form.

3. Consent form (Tagalog version). You need to recognize the vital aspects of the consent form
as you will be the one who will be explaining the nature, risk and benefits of the study to the
qualified participants.

4. Study protocol. The protocol serves as the blueprint of the study.

5. Screening tools. The screening tool comprises of two components, the screening guide based
from the inclusion/exclusion criteria and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire
(SPMSQ).

6. Study participants general information sheet. This form indicates the name of participant,
address, contact number, study site where they belong and control number. Indicate if the
participant submits the accomplished questionnaire on specific time periods (ie, Baseline and
after 4 weeks).

7. Field notes during data collection. You need to submit at least four entries during pilot
study/screening, baseline data collection, and after four weeks. The field notes are reflective
notes narrating problems encountered, actions and recommendations. Together with the
performance monitoring, these forms will be submitted to and attested by the designated research
coordinator.

8. Research assistant performance monitoring. This evaluation form will be accomplished by

your designated research supervisor during the screening, baseline data collection and after 4
weeks.

9. Time card. The time card will be attested by your designated research coordinator. It is
expected that you will accumulate forty eight (48) hours throughout the study period (8 hrs in
screening, data collection at baseline and after four weeks (32 hours) and the remaining hours for
encoding/ training during pilot study).

II. DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES

General Guidelines
To ensure consistency in data collection, the following general guidelines applies to trained data
collectors:

1. Greet the participant. Explain the purpose of the questionnaire during the baseline assessment.

2. Explain the response options at the onset of data collection, and encourage respondent to
verbalize any difficulty experienced in completing the forms.

3. Use specific example to expound the question if the respondent expresses difficulty in
answering the forms.

4. Use appropriate culturally-sensitive body language in the administration of the questionnaire.

5. Always exhibit non-judgmental attitude for the responses of the respondents.

6. Encourage respondents to express their opinions.

7. Use language that is understandable, courteous and appropriate to the respondent.

8. Ensure that all forms are complete, legibly filled up and appropriately stored.

9. Ensure anonymity, confidentiality and privacy.

10. Always thank the respondent for his/her time.

Arrangement for Baseline Data Collection

Once the eligible participant has signed the informed consent, baseline data will be collected
such as sociodemographic and clinical profile, and the questionnaire package will be
administered. The participant may be allowed to answer the questionnaire package by
her/himself. However, in case, the participant is unable to, the research assistant will do the
coding of responses, the response will be validated first prior to writing.
Guideline for Subsequent Data Collection

Using the respondents general information sheet, respondents interviewed at baseline will be
followed-up after four weeks. Only the sociodemographic and clinical profile questionnaire will
be administered at baseline. The Self-Efficacy to Manage Chronic Disease Scale (SEMCD) and
Health Empowerment Scale (HES) will be administered at baseline and after four weeks. Data
collectors will administer the questionnaire package to the participant during out-patient
consultation. This is reflected in the schematic diagram on the flow of data collection.

Data Collection Scheme

Study and Socio- Self- Health

Time control demographic & efficacy empowerment
groups clinical profile

Baseline

After four
weeks
III. DATA MANAGEMENT AND STORAGE

You are required to observe confidentiality and utmost care in data management and storage. As
such, you are expected to comply with these guidelines (Augburg College, 2016).

1. Keep all research information shared confidential by not discussing or sharing the information
in any form or format with anyone other than the primary investigator.

2. Hold in strictest confidence the identification of any individual that may be revealed during
the course of performing the research tasks;

3. Not make copies of any raw data in any form or format unless specifically requested to do so
by the primary investigator/ statistician. Submit all tabulated data one day after the collection in
an excel format with the file name format <DATA><Collection period> to
myupmanfiles@gmail.com. Collection period can either be BASELINE or AFTER4WEEKS.
List of codes will be forwarded by the statistician to your email address.

4. Keep all raw data that contain identifying information in any form or format secured while it is
in possession.

5. Give all raw data in any form or format to the primary investigator/ statistician when you have
completed the research tasks.

6. Destroy all research information in any form or format that is not returnable to the primary
investigator (e.g., information stored on my computer hard drive) upon completion of the
research tasks.
7. For any concerns, directly contact the primary investigator,

PAUL FROILAN U. GARMA

09278948132, pugarma@up.edu.ph.