What is the CLEVEREST Study?
This project aims to create a long-term study (a cohort study) that regularly measures the physical and mental wellbeing of people working in the cultural and creative sectors. Starting in January 2025 and continuing over several years, the study will collect ongoing data to better understand how the creative/cultural/arts sectors health and wellbeing is affected over time.
Study Team
Participant information
We would like to invite you to take part in a research study, but before you decide, please read the following information to understand why the research is being done and what it would involve for you. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
What is the purpose of this study?
This CLEVEREST study aims to generate robust information on the scale, nature, and factors associated with the physical/mental wellbeing of members of the creative/cultural industries (sector).
The project also aims to establish a sustainable data-collection structure to allow rapid evaluation of a range of strategies to improve wellbeing.
Who is doing the study?
This study is being run by a team of researchers from the Faculties of Health Studies and Life Sciences at the University of Bradford.
Why have I been asked to participate?
We are involving all members of the creative/cultural industries. We can include people who:
- Are aged 16+
- Are currently working/participating in these industries.
- Are able to complete online, electronic forms on a PC, tablet, or smartphone.
Do I have to take part?
No. Taking part is entirely voluntary. It is your choice to decide whether or not you would like to participate. If you decide to not take part, then you will not be affected in any way. No one will know that you have not agreed to take part in this study. Even if you take part now, you can withdraw at any time. You do not have to give any reasons.
What will be involved if I take part in this study?
If you decide to take part, then you will be invited to complete an electronic survey that asks about your physical/psychological wellbeing as well as other questions about yourself. This should take approximately 15 minutes to complete.
We would like to follow up on how people are over time so we will ask you if it is okay to contact you in the future to invite you to complete other questionnaire(s). We will also ask if you would like to be contacted again on occasion, about related research that you may be interested in. The aim of this is to develop a platform for high quality future research. If you do not choose to be contacted again then you can still take part in this questionnaire and provide valuable information.
During the survey we will ask some information about your personal characteristics. This will allow us to explore how people's characteristics can affect experiences of wellbeing.
Data Linkage
In the future we would like to link other sources of information about participants with their responses to our questionnaires. This will provide a rich dataset to work with and allow in-depth analysis of factors that we think may be linked to physical/psychological wellbeing. This will also make it easier for participants by saving time spent filling in questionnaires themselves. One example could be to look at whether the geographical area where you access healthcare influences your wellbeing. We will not share your physical/psychological wellbeing responses with linked sources.
If you agree to take part in this project, then we will explicitly ask you for your consent to conduct data linkage. We will contact you to explain the process in more detail and ask whether you would be happy for us to involve you in this part of the project. If you do not want to take part in the part of the project, the information you give in the questionnaires will still provide valuable information.
What are the advantages of taking part?
There may not be benefits to you personally but the information you provide will help us to gain valuable knowledge and insight about the cultural/creative sector wellbeing and to inform the best strategies to improve this. Taking part may also provide some experience for you in participating in research.
What are the disadvantages/risks of taking part?
You would have to allow time to complete the questionnaires. The psychological wellbeing questionnaires (which are part of the survey) are low-intensity and widely used in the general population. However, some people may find the questions to be distressing. We have included details of help and support at the end of this information in case you are feeling distressed or wish to seek support.
Can I withdraw from the study at any time?
Yes. You can withdraw from the study at any time, and you do not have to give a reason. If you withdraw then we will not contact, you again about this project. You can also request for any data that we already have about you to be destroyed if this request is made before the data is published. Withdrawing from this project will not affect you in any way.
Privacy Notice
How will the information and personal data I give be handled?
All information you provide will be kept confidential and not shared outside of the research team. Your survey responses will remain pseudonymous and will therefore only be associated with a unique Participant ID and not your personal details. Your name and personal details will be stored separately to the rest of your data. This would allow a member of the research team to destroy data held about you should you request this.
All data will be collected via password-protected, secure software platforms at the University of Bradford. Your data will only be accessed by approved members of the research team when there is a legitimate reason to access the data.
All data will be processed and stored in compliance with University of Bradford Data Protection Policy and the UK’s data protection laws.
Details of your involvement in this project will not be shared with anyone outside of the project team. If you consent to data linkage, then we will share essential information with linked sources in order to obtain information. For example, your name and date of birth may be shared to obtain the correct record for you. Some linked sources may therefore become aware that you are participating in this project but will not be made aware of any further details of your involvement. We will not share your individual physical/psychological wellbeing responses, or other data with anyone. Data obtained from data linkage sources will be anonymised.
Project data will be retained for a minimum of five years after the project has ended. Personal details will be held for up to one year after the study project ends.
For more information on data protection, please read our Project Data Protection Statement. For more information on data protection compliance, please visit: https://www.bradford.ac.uk/data-protection/
What will happen to the results of the study?
The data that you provide will be anonymised in any published work. Anonymised personal data may be used in the future to identify and explore factors that are associated with physical/psychological wellbeing. The results of the project will be presented at conferences and submitted to scientific journals for publication. We will also send you a summary of findings if you wish. It will not be possible to identify you in reports or publications.
Who do I contact in the event of a complaint?
If you have a complaint about the way, you have been dealt with during this project, then this will be addressed. Please use the below contacts:
- CLEVEREST Research Team: uob-bd25-wellbeing@bradford.ac.uk or the Principal Investigators: Dr Lisa Edwards l.edwards@bradford.ac.uk; Dr Leanne Allen l.n.allen@bradford.ac.uk; Dr Sara Morsy s.khalil7@bradford.ac.uk
- University of Bradford ethics committee: ethics@bradford.ac.uk
- Matt Stephenson, University Data Protection Officer (for data protection complaints): data-protection@bradford.ac.uk
- Information Commissioner’s Office: www.ico.org.uk/concerns
Sources of Support
If you feel distressed or would like some other healthcare support, then we advise you to use the resources below:
- If you are in mental health crisis now, then call 999 emergency services.
- The Samaritans are available 24/7 to provide confidential support to anyone who needs it by calling: 116 123
- You can discuss concerns with your doctor who can support mental/physical health or wellbeing problems. You can search the NHS website for GP surgeries in your area: www.nhs.uk
- The NHS "Conditions" webpage provides a comprehensive directory of health conditions, symptoms, treatments, and procedures. It serves as a resource for patients and caregivers seeking reliable information on a wide range of medical issues, from minor ailments to chronic diseases. Each condition page includes details on symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment options, and when to seek medical advice. You can explore it here: NHS Conditions.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. To take part, please click the link or scan the QR code provided at the top of this webpage.
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