About this study

This research is led by Drs. Megan Piper and Heidi Brown at the University of Wisconsin and Kaiser Permanente. It is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The purpose of this research study is to understand how women use an online program to improve bladder and bowel health. The research compares two version of the Women on the Go program to see which one is more helpful for the women using it.

Who can participate?

You can participate in this study if you: 

• Were assigned female at birth (people thought you were female when you were born)
• Are at least 50 years old
• Have access to email
• Have a device that you can use on the internet (like a computer, tablet, or smart-phone)
• Are able to read and write English

You cannot participate in this study if you: 

• Have been told by a doctor that you have dementia or cognitive impairment
• Have been told by a doctor that you should not do pelvic floor muscle exercises (also called Kegels)
• Have seen blood in your urine or stools (pee or poop) in the last 6 months and have not yet seen a doctor about it

What does participation involve?

If you decide to participate in this research study, you will be asked to register for and use Women on the Go, a free online program to improve bladder and bowel health for women. You can access the program using your personal computer, tablet, or smart phone. You will receive an email from the program every week for 12 weeks (about 3 months). 

You will also be asked to complete 4 online surveys over the next 6 months. Each of these surveys should take you less than ½ hour. The research team may also invite you to complete a brief telephone interview. You may skip any questions on that you do not wish to answer. 

Compensation 

Once you enroll in the study, you have the chance to earn up to $100 for participation: $25 each time you complete a study survey. These $25 payments will be emailed to you as electronic gift cards after you complete each survey (1 today, 1 in 1 month, 1 in 3 months, and 1 in 6 months).

If you choose to leave the study, or if we remove you from the study for any reason, you will not receive any additional payments.

Some participants will also be invited to complete a telephone interview. If you complete a telephone interview, you will receive an extra electronic gift card for $25. 

How long will I be in this study?

You will be part of the study for about 6 months. If you are eligible to participate, you will complete your first online survey today. It should take about 20-30 minutes. You will be invited to complete online surveys again in 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, and we will send up to 3 reminder emails for those surveys. 

Separate from the study survey invitations, you will get weekly emails from the Women on the Go program for the first 3 months of the study.

Have questions about this study? 

If you want to speak with someone about the study, please email our research study team at women.on.the.go@ctri.wisc.edu.

Email is generally not a secure way to communicate sensitive or health related information as there are many ways for unauthorized users to access email. You should avoid sending sensitive, detailed personal information by email. Email should also not be used to convey information of an urgent nature. If you need to talk to someone immediately or would prefer not to receive study communication by email, please contact Megan Piper, Researcher at 608-265-5472.