Participant information - interview study
“I love my job, but it’s time to go”:
A narrative study of wellbeing triggers for early retirement in female GPs and professional identity disintegration.
Protocol Number: 2026.LRE.00109
Sponsor Avant Grant
Principal Investigators Louise Stone (Adelaide University), Megan Cahill (ANU), Erin Walsh (ANU), Karen Price (Monash University), Michelle Barrett (ANU)
Before you decide whether or not you wish to take part in this study, it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take the time to read the following information carefully and discuss it with others if you wish. There is a summary of the study on the last page.
1. What is the purpose of this study?
In Australia, female GPs are leaving the workforce at increasing rates. This study aims
• To explore the reasons why Australian female GPs choose to retire from clinical General Practice
• To identify personal and professional threats to wellbeing that influence their decision to retire
•To develop metanarratives from participant stories that can be used to guide retention policies
•To describe the work of a female GP at this time
2. Why have I been invited to take part in this study?
We are approaching you because you are a GP who is planning to retire or has retired within 5 years. We are hoping you can help us understand why women GPs retire from practice, particularly at this time.
3. What if I don’t want to take part in this study or if I want to withdraw later?
Taking part in this study is voluntary. It is completely up to you if you would like to take part or not. If you decide not to take part, it will not affect your relationship with the funder Avant or any of the Universities involved.
If you wish to stop taking part in the study once you have started, you can do so at any time without having to give a reason. You can refuse to answer any question. No new information will be collected or used after you have stopped taking part in the study.
4. What does this study involve?
You are being asked to take part in an interview, either face to face or online. The interview is likely to take 60-90 minutes and will be undertaken with a GP researcher. Online interviews will be recorded over the platform, and face to face interviews will be recorded using an electronic recorder. The interviews will involve you talking about your experience in General Practice and your reasons for retiring. Interviews will be recorded and transcribed for later analysis.
At the end of the study, you will be asked if you want to submit your interview as part of an oral history project. If you choose to do so, you will be given your transcript so you have the opportunity to delete any comments you choose to withhold. It is up to you whether you identify yourself with this piece. There will be a separate consent process for the oral history collection, which will be held at the National Library in Canberra.
5. How is this study being paid for?
The study is being sponsored by theAvant Foundation.
6. Are there risks to me in taking part in this study?
While this study includes talking about your decisions and your work, we aim to limit any risks to you. You are welcome to choose an interviewer from the research team, who makes you feel comfortable. You are also welcome to take a break at any time. Your participation in the study is private and information will be de-identified.
7. Who is organising and funding the research?
This research is being conducted by:
Louise Stone (GP academic, University of Adelaide),
Megan Cahill (CEO and academic, ANU),
Erin Walsh (Academic researcher and science communication artist, ANU),
Karen Price (GP academic, Monash University),
Michelle Barrett (GP academic, ANU)
The study is being funded by the Avant Foundation. Members of the research team will not receive a personal financial benefit from your taking part in this study. The research team members declare no personal conflict of interest relevant to the undertaking of this study.
8. How will my confidentiality be protected?
Any identifiable information that is collected about you, your practice, or any individuals in this study will remain confidential. Your identifiable information will be disclosed only with your permission, or as required by law. Only the researchers named above will have access to your details. Interview data will be held securely at the Adelaide University on a password protected computer and a locked filing cabinet. Data will be stored for at least 5 years. If you choose to have your interview accepted as part of the oral history project, we will provide a separate consent process that specifies the conditions under which the data will be stored
9. Privacy note
Australian privacy law requires the research team to tell you how Adelaide University will handle your private information. You can ask the research team to give you more details of how we will handle your private information. You can ask the research team to find out what information we have about you, and to fix it if it is wrong.
In collecting your personal information within this research, the Universities involved must comply with the Privacy Act 1988. Adelaide University Privacy Policy is available at https://adelaideuni.edu.au/about/policies/privacy-policy/ and it contains information about how a person can:
· Access or seek correction to their personal information;
· Complain about a breach of an Australian Privacy Principle by the University of Adelaide, and how they will handle the complaint.
10. What happens with the results?
Data you provide will be de-identified and summarized by the research team. The final results will be presented in a series of published articles. In any publication, information will be provided in such a way that you, your patients, or your practice cannot be identified.
If you choose to be part of the oral history project, the recording and transcript of your interview, with any sections you choose to delete removed will be stored at the National Library. You will be given further information about this process should you choose to contribute your story to the archive.
11. What should I do if I want to discuss this study further before I decide?
When you have read this information, the research team will discuss it with you and answer any questions you may have. If you would like to know more at any stage, please contact Louise Stone Email: gptimetogo@gmail.com
12. Who should I contact if I have concerns about the conduct of this study?
This study has been approved by the ACT Health Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocol 2026.LRE.00109) and the Adelaide Human Research Ethics Committee. If you have any concerns or complaints about the conduct of this study, and do not feel comfortable discussing this with study staff, you may contact the Committee secretariat who is nominated to receive complaints about research projects. You should contact the ACT Health Human Research Ethics Committee secretariat on 6174 7968 or acthealth-hrec@act.gov.au
Thank you for taking the time to consider this study. If you wish to take part, please send an email to Louise Stone at gptimetogo@gmail.com