Further information for patients and professionals:

What will happen to me if i take part?

The research Project has two parts.

1. Firstly, the doctor or nurse will place a tuning fork on both your ankles and record your response. When tapped against a hand the tuning fork vibrates gently and makes a quiet sound, when the tuning fork is then placed over bone it sends the sound waves down the bone. A tuning fork is usually used to assess hearing but we want to see if it can identify if there is a break in the bone. You will then be sent for an x-ray of your ankle and the injury will be managed according to the diagnosis. The result of the tuning fork test will then be compared to the x-ray result to see how many times they agree and disagree. We need 1300 patients to complete this part of the project.

2. For part two of the project we want to hold a series of meeting to find out what patients thought of the tuning fork test. These meetings are called "focus groups" and conversations that take place are recorded. Each meeting will last about 1-2 hours and take place in a local hotel. Refreshments will be provided. If you consent to us contacting you for this part of the study (by circling the appropriate box on the consent form) we will do so within 3 months of your visit to the department. If you attend the meeting we will give you a £10 book token and pay reasonable travel expenses (not taxi fares). We need 60 patients to complete this section of the project.

Are there any risks involved if I take part?

The risk from x-rays of the ankle is negligible. If you take part the dose and number of x-rays you recieve will be the same that you would get if you did not take part in the project. There is no known risk from the tuning fork test, but it can sometimes be a little uncomfortable. If you are pregnant and the benefit of the x-ray is deemed to outweigh the risks to the unborn child, you can still take part in the project (if you wish to) as the tuning fork test is known not to be harmful in pregnancy.

What are the possible benefits of taking part?

We are hoping that the tuning fork test will help us improve how we assess ankle injuries in the future. This will result in the reduction in the number of ankle x-rays we take, and therefore reduce the cost involved (did you know it costs approximately £15 for one ankle x-ray!). It is anticipated that the patients will then spend less time in the department as they will not need to wait for unnecessary x-rays.

Will you inform anyone else of my inclusion in the project?

If you are less than 16 years old we will have to inform your parents or guardians, but we do not need to inform your GP or any other specialist as the project will not interfere with any other treatment you may be recieving. All your medical details will be kept private if you take part. No personal data will be kept for the purpose of the study, as all the project data will be entered onto a specially designed data collection sheet.

Has anyone else reviewed the study?

This study has been reviewed by the Southampton & South West Hampshire Research Ethics Committee (A) and an ethics committee at the University of Portsmouth.

Who is organizing the funding and the research?

Anne Welling is the Lead researcher and is a consultant nurse working in the emergency department at the Queen Alexandra Hospital Portsmouth. She is studying for her Professional Doctorate degree with the University of Portsmouth. Funding for the study has been recieved from the Research for Patient Benefit Scheme and the project is sponsored by the Portsmouth Hospitals NHS trust.