FAQ

If you’d like to get started, you can click ‘Start Screener’ below or on any page of our site.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible for this study?

• Please see our eligibility page to see who is a good fit for this study.

Can I respond to the text messages?

• Text messages are one-way.
• We will not receive any responses and cannot respond to them.

How often will you message me if I participate?

• As part of this study you will receive messages on 3 days per week for 4 weeks in a row (standard messaging and data rates apply).

What kinds of messages will I receive?

• You will receive several different types of messages — some suggest coping skills, some offer encouragement and support. An example message might be:
  • Approaching – feeling and sitting with them can actually reduce their impact. How can you approach your feelings & memories this week?
• You will also receive reminders about upcoming assessments.

What else will you ask me to do as part of this study?

• You will be asked to do a series of surveys, spaced from one week to several months apart (for 13 months total after enrolling).
• We also will ask you to do a brief phone call with a staff member prior to officially enrolling.

I am experiencing distress from a stressor or trauma, or concerned about my drinking, but I don’t want text messages. Do you offer anything else?

• This study is purely text message based. But check out our resources page for other ongoing studies and other suggestions for help and support.

How will my confidentiality be protected in this study?

• We will store your name and other identifiable information separate from the study data. Access to your identifying information will be limited to certain members of the study team and any individuals from the UW, National Institutions of Health (NIH), or other agencies that may need to audit study records.
• The link between your identifiers and the research data will be destroyed after the records retention period required by state and/or federal law.
• We have a Certificate of Confidentiality from the U.S. federal National Institutes of Health which allows us to protect identifiable research information that is stored in the U.S. from legal proceedings or in response to a legal request unless you give us permission to release it. There are some limits to this protection, which are listed elsewhere in the linked information statement.
• For more information, please view pages 6-8 of our information statement.

Contact 

Please reach out to us via email at project-better@uw.edu or by phone at (206) 670-2631 with any questions or concerns.