Consent

ATTACHMENT 5e: CONSENT COVER LETTER

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC)

Dear Dr. [Name]

Thank you for agreeing to participate in the [City Name] HIV survey – a relatively simple, but important research project that may improve care for patients in the [City Name] area. I am asking for approximately 30 minutes of your time, the time it will take you to answer the questions in your survey.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has commissioned this special survey of providers to help us learn more about providers’ practices as they relate to HIV prevention and treatment in [City Name]. You have been selected as a part of a representative sample of providers in [City Name]. As you may know, [City Name] has one of the highest incidence rates of HIV infections in the nation, and understanding current care practices is critical to preventing new infections. Your feedback is very important to help us understand how HIV is treated in [City Name]. Ultimately, data from this survey can be used to better understand the needs of HIV-at-risk and HIV-infected persons, and the effectiveness of care in both preventing new HIV infections and treating HIV-positive persons.

Because of your expertise as a provider, your responses are very important to us. You can complete the survey online by typing the below URL into your web browser and using the password provided. All survey responses will be kept private.

URL: XXXXX

Password: XXXXXX

We realize that your schedule is extremely busy and that there are many demands for your time. Participating in this survey is voluntary, but we hope you can help us. Your responses matter. At the end of the survey, one of the benefits that you will receive is the opportunity to complete a free Continuing Education (CE)-eligible course on HIV prevention and treatment. Within the next year, we may also email you some follow-up questions about any changes in your HIV prevention and treatment practices.

You will receive $20 as a token of our appreciation for completing the survey. If you have any questions about the survey or experience technical difficulties with the online survey and need assistance, please call 877-828-5101 or email the Study Director at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Madeline Sutton, MD, MPH, FACOG

Lead, Minority Health & Health Equity Activity

Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention