Healthcare Focus Group FAQ

Who is conducting this study?

This study is being conducted by researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno who received a research grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation. The researchers contracted with the Nevada Center for Surveys, Evaluation, and Statistics at the University of Nevada, Reno to implement this survey.

Who is eligible to participate in this survey?

Community members of Washoe County, Nevada are welcome to participate. To be fully eligible, you must have completed the brief online questionnaire to: (1) Provide basic demographic information about yourself, (2) Provide your contact information, and (3) Schedule a time and date to participate in the focus group.

What is this study about?

Our goal is to gain an understanding of community members’ perceptions and practices regarding healthcare service advertisements they see on television, billboards, the internet and others.

How will my information be used?

Your focus group responses will be combined with all others’ who participate in the focus group(s). We intend to publish the results in academic and professional journals to further the discussions about how to best utilize healthcare service advertising to promote high-quality care and patient welfare.

All results will be reported in a group format only. No individual responses will be reported. If any direct quotes are used, no individuals will be identified. 

How does this benefit me?

There may be no direct benefit to you. However, by participating, you will help researchers identify effective ways doctors and hospitals can communicate with the public through advertising. Your participation in this focus group is completely voluntary. Participating in this focus group poses no more risk than what we experience in our everyday routines.

How do I participate in a focus group?

You can scan the QR code on the flyer or copy and paste the URL on the flyer into an internet browser and answer the brief questionnaire. If those options do not work for you, you can call (775) 384-7947 and leave a message, including your name and phone number, for a staff member from the Nevada Center for Surveys, Evaluation and Statistics to call you back. Completing the brief questionnaire will take just 5-10 minutes. Participating in the focus group will take at least 90 minutes in person at the University of Nevada, Reno Innevation Center (450 Sinclair St., Reno, NV 89501).

Will I be paid?

Everyone who fully participates and completes a focus group will get a $50 gift card.

How will you keep my information secure?

We are committed to protecting your privacy. Your personal information will be kept separate from the response database. We are not collecting any other personally identifying information. Only the researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno involved in this project will have access to the data.

Who can I contact if I have questions?

If you have questions about participating in the focus group or are not able to sign up for the study using the QR code or URL link, call (775) 384-7947 to leave a message including your name and phone number for a staff member at the Nevada Center for Surveys, Evaluation and Statistics to call you back. If you have questions about the research, you can contact the principal investigator of this project, Dr. Sung-Yeon Park at (775) 682-7079 or syp@unr.edu. If you have questions about your rights as a research survey participant, you can call the University of Nevada, Reno Research Integrity Office at (775) 327-2368. If no one answers, please leave a message including your name and phone number. Your call will be returned as soon as possible. If you have a technical issue with the survey, you can call the Nevada Center for Surveys, Evaluation and Statistics at 1-800-929-9079.