You’ve been invited to take part in research.

What is Dr Costa?

Dr Costa is the app your study team uses to run their research.

If you decide to take part, you will use it to read about the study and to say yes or no in your own time. You will also use it to answer some of the study’s questions from home.

Why have I been invited?

Your study team chose who to invite. This website does not know who you are.

Taking part is always your choice. Saying no will not affect the care you normally receive.

If you say yes and change your mind later, you can leave the study at any time. You do not have to give a reason, and your normal care carries on as before.

Ask your study team what happens to the answers you have already given — their information sheet explains this.

Is my information looked after?

The app is built to keep your name apart from your study answers. Your answers are stored under a code, not under your name, and your name and contact details are kept somewhere separate and locked. Your study team can match your answers back to you when they need to — for example, to contact you.

No AI reads or sorts what you tell the study about your health. If you want to know who reads it, and when, your study team can tell you.

What will I be asked to do?

Every study is different.

Before you decide anything, your study team will give you an information sheet. It explains what the study is for and what it asks of you. Ask for it on paper if you would rather read it that way.

Take it away. Talk it over with family if you like. Ask the team anything. Then decide.

How do I get started?

You join through your study team, not through this website.

Your team will give you an invitation — usually a link or a code. If you cannot find it, ask them. They expect questions.

What if I’d rather not use an app?

Tell your study team — this is a reasonable thing to ask.

Ask them what other ways there are to take part, such as paper forms or a telephone call. What is possible depends on the study, so they are the right people to ask.

Being part of research should not depend on being good with technology.