What will I have to do as a volunteer with a previous spinal injury (alpha prototype only)?

You will be invited to a testing session at a venue to be agreed with you, which will last approximately one hour. A member of the research team (Professor of Emergency Medicine or research paramedic) will apply our new device and we will then ask you to give us your opinion on how it compares to your previous experience of collar/head blocks and tape. We will ask you to complete a questionnaire that will cover items such as discomfort, anxiety, and feelings of security after wearing the device for at least ten minutes.

We are looking for 5 or 6 volunteers to test this first (alpha) prototype; we shall feed the results into a redesign to create the second (beta) prototype which will then be tested in a very similar way. If you are interested in helping us, please check the exclusion criteria below to see whether you would be eligible to help.

The prototype design has been approved for testing by the NHS research ethics committee and the MHRA.

Below, you will find the Participant Information Sheets and copies of the consent form for the trial. If, after reading these documents, you are interested in helping us by taking part in the trial, please would you complete the indication of interest form here. We will then make contact with you to discuss your involvement further, and answer any questsions you may have. You will have a further opportunity to ask questions when you attend for the trial session. Dates for the first two testing sessions for the alpha prototype are given below.

Dates for testing session (alpha prototype)

These will be agreed later.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria for previously-injured volunteers:

Inclusion criterion:
A willingness to take part, and give up a few hours of your time.

Exclusion criteria:
If you require ongoing spinal support as a result of your injury, or wear an appliance for support of any part of your spine, if you have any known instability of any part of your spine, if you cannot transfer without use of some spinal support, or experience pain on movement of your spine, or if you know that you suffer from claustrophobia we will not include you in the study.

If you would lilke further information at any time, please email spine at warwick dot ac dot uk or call 02476 150491