We are conducting a confidential public health research study to examine attitudes about certain health behaviors and health policies in Oklahoma. The topic may be sensitive to some and centers around tobacco, nicotine, and vaping among youth in Oklahoma. The goal of this study is to test various PSA messaging and creative concepts to prevent Oklahoma youth from using tobacco, nicotine, and vape devices. To accomplish this goal, we need to collect opinions and behavioral information from 13- to 18-year-olds. With your consent, we would like you to allow your teen to take this survey. Their participation in this study is voluntary. If they choose not to participate or to withdraw from this study at any time, they may do so without penalty. He or she may choose not to respond to any question. If he or she participates, the survey will take 3-days to complete, with an approximate daily time commitment of 30-minutes. The results of the study will be confidential and only used to inform the direction of this public health marketing campaign. Only a unique ID number will be connected with your teen’s responses. We will not be collecting any identifying information other than age, sex, and zip code. None of your child’s responses will be shared with you. 

The risks of the study are potential breach of confidentiality and discomfort answering some questions. The potential benefits of the study include increased awareness of behaviors and attitudes, and helping to inform statewide messaging to reduce the prevalence of teen tobacco, nicotine, and vaping use. 

Your teen will receive $175 compensation for their full participation in this study. This may be in the form of cash and sent via check, Venmo, or Cash App. Should they decide to remove themselves before fully completing the study, the compensation will be prorated accordingly.   

This study will be conducted November 4 – 6.  

To help protect your privacy, this research is covered by a Certificate of Confidentiality from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). This Certificate means that the researchers cannot be forced (for example by court subpoena) to share information that may identify you in any federal, state, or local civil, criminal, administrative, legislative, or other proceedings. 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 U.S. government that is used for checking or evaluating federally-funded projects or for information that must be disclosed in order to meet the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration. The protection offered by the Certificate of Confidentiality does not prevent us from being required by applicable state law to report information about suspected or known sexual, physical, or other abuse of a child or older person, or a subject’s threats of violence to self or others. If any member of the research team is given such information, he or she will be required to make a report to the appropriate authorities. The Certificate, however, 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, employer, or other person obtains your written consent to receive research information, then the researchers may not use the Certificate to withhold that information. This means that you and your family should actively protect your own privacy.  

If you have any questions concerning the research study, you can contact the study team at kellib@tset.ok.gov. For questions about your rights as a participant, contact the TSET Director of Strategic Communication at (405) 521-3888.