Introductory Letter

Attachment 5 – Interviewer Introduction Letter

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

3311 Toledo Road

Hyattsville, Maryland 20782

What do I do next?

If you want to schedule an interview or ask questions about this survey research, please call [Fill name] at [FILL].

Date

Full name

Street address

City, State, Zip

Dear [Fill]:

My name is [FILL NAME] and I am the [FILL TITLE] for the National Center for Health Statistics’ (NCHS) preliminary survey research on The National Survey of Hospital-Based Victim Services (NSHVS). I am one of the interviewers on this project and am available to answer any of your questions about the study.

As explained in a previous letter, sent to you on [FILL DATE] from Charles Rothwell of the National Center for health statistics, the survey is best completed by someone with knowledge of all the different ways your hospital provides services to victims of crime or abuse.

If you are willing to help us, here is what you need to know:

• In-person interview

• One-hour long

• $100 as a token of our appreciation

• Call [FILL #] to schedule an appointment

Participation is voluntary and you may refuse to answer any question or stop participating at any time without penalty or loss of benefits. All of the information you provide will be kept confidential.¹

If you have any questions about your rights as a respondent in this research study, please call the Research Ethics Review Board at the National Center for Health Statistics toll-free at 1-800-223-8118. Please leave a brief message with your name and phone number. Say that you are calling about Protocol # [INSERT # after ERB approval]. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. We greatly appreciate your help and look forward to working with you on this important topic.

Sincerely,

[INSERT SHEBA DUNSTON/BRENT VICKERS SIGNATURE]

[Sheba Dunston/Brent Vickers]

[Project Investigator/Associate Service Fellow]

National Center for Health Statistics

3311 Toledo Rd

Hyattsville, MD 20782

1 This study is authorized by Section 306 of the Public Health Service Act (Title 42, U.S. Code 242k). All information collected as part of this study will be used for statistical purposes only and held in the strictest confidence according to Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42, U.S. Code 242m(d)) and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (Title 5 of PL 107-347).