GLADIOLI study: Research on local and institutional responses to dietary health inequalities
PE Control - Participant Information Sheet
1 What is the purpose of this study?
This study explores how local authorities and related organisations discuss, collaborate, and take action in relation to dietary health inequalities (DHI), and the barriers and opportunities they encounter in doing so.
The research forms part of the wider GLADIOLI study, a UKRI-funded project examining whether facilitated systems-thinking workshops support local responses to dietary health inequalities. As part of this, we want to talk to local authority and community staff who do work relevant to dietary health inequalities. We will also be observing some of the meetings and events they organise to see how they work.
2 Why have I been invited to take part?
You have been invited because you are involved in local authority or community work related to food and dietary health inequalities, for example through public health, food partnerships, or related local organisations, or because you attended a relevant meeting or workshop.
3 Do I have to take part?
No. Participation is entirely voluntary. You are free to decline to take part or to withdraw at any time without giving a reason. If you withdraw, any data collected up to that point will be removed if you request this, provided it has not already been anonymised and incorporated into analysis.
Your decision will not affect your role, relationships, or involvement in any current or future work.
4 What will taking part involve?
The study includes observations and interviews. You may be involved in one or both observations. We would like to observe a relevant team meeting or workshop focusing on dietary health inequalities. We may ask you to help us identify one or put us in touch with someone who can. With the agreement of attendees, one or two researchers will observe the meeting/workshop where dietary health inequalities are discussed (either in person or online).
Researchers will observe how dietary health inequalities are discussed, note the types of issues raised, priorities identified, and how discussions unfold, record general information.
Meetings will not be audio- or video-recorded. Researchers will take written notes only and we do not take part in the meetings, other than to introduce ourselves.
Interviews Shortly after observing the meeting (no more than a week), we would like to interview two or three people who attended (including yourself), so that we can ask them what they thought of it and what the purpose of the meeting was. We will get back in touch with those same individuals six months later to be interviewed again, so that we can see what – if anything – has changed around how you think about and work with dietary health inequalities. You can be interviewed online or in person and can choose between being interviewed individually or with the other colleagues chosen from your Local Authority. With your permission, we will record them (sound only) so that we can transcribe and analyse them. We will not share them with anyone outside of our research team.
5 What are the possible benefits and risks of taking part?
There are no direct personal benefits, but your participation will contribute to understanding how local action on dietary health inequalities is shaped and supported. Risks are minimal. However:
you may find reflecting on dietary health inequalities and institutional challenges or constraints uncomfortable;
you do not have to answer any questions you prefer not to, and you may stop the interview at any time.
6 How will my information be used and protected?
All information will be treated as confidential.
Interview transcripts and observation notes will be anonymised or pseudonymised, for example by job role or sector.
No individuals or organisations will be identifiable in reports or publications.
Audio recordings will be deleted after transcription.
Data will be stored securely on password-protected systems at the University of Hertfordshire, in line with data protection regulations.
Only authorised members of the research team will have access to the data.
7 What will happen to the results of the research?
Findings will be used to:
inform academic publications and reports,
support learning about how local systems respond to dietary health inequalities,
contribute to guidance on the use of systems-thinking approaches in public health.
Results will be reported in an anonymised form.
8 What if I have questions or concerns?
If you have any questions about the study or your participation, please contact:
Dr Claire Thompson
University of Hertfordshire
c.thompson25@herts.ac.uk
