Research Opportunity: Survey for Individuals who have Lost Someone to #SuicideDue2Pain

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We are a VA research team that is conducting a research survey focused on learning more about people who have died by suicide after a change in prescribed pain medicines. We are recruiting both Veterans and non-Veterans for this study, but are frankly having trouble reaching friends or families of Veterans who may have committed suicide after a change in pain medication. This is a serious barrier to receiving VA funding for this important project.

Our study is called “Clinical context of SuicIde following OPIOID transitionS” (CSI:OPIOIDS).

The purpose is to collect basic information from people who were close to someone who died by suicide after a change in pain medications, and to learn if further research on this sensitive topic would be feasible. You can do the survey online or by phone. We describe our study and why we are doing it, in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoNvCDdn2SA&t=16s

If you are interested in learning more and potentially completing the survey, click here: http://go.uab.edu/csiopioids.

The study is led by Dr. Stefan Kertesz and Dr. Allyson Varley. This is an IRB approved study (UAB IRB Protocol #: IRB-300004342) and all elements of informed consent and HIPAA authorization are part of the introduction to the survey.

Please share this widely! If you have suggestions of where we should circulate this for recruitment, please let us know.

Again, we are seeking funding from the VA to study this, but need your help with this preliminary recruitment to show proof-of-concept.

Stefan G Kertesz, MD (/u/aramis-ter)

Allyson Varley, PhD (/u/lucillebluth2)

Birmingham VA Medical Center

University of Alabama at Birmingham