Study Title: Understanding the Challenges in India for Perpetrator-Focused Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and the Use of Child Abuse Images – A Qualitative Interview Study with Various Stakeholders.
Introduction:
You are invited to participate in a research study. Before you decide to participate, it is important that you understand why the study is being conducted and what it involves. Please take the time to read the following information carefully. Please ask us if anything is unclear or if you would like more information.
Purpose of the Study:
The aim of this study is to investigate gaps in recruitment and engagement for causer-based preventive treatment in India. The study focuses on understanding how recruitment materials and treatment offerings are perceived by different groups of people.
As part of this study, you will be presented with recruitment materials (e.g., campaign content, video spots, and social media posts) as well as information about treatment options. You will be asked to provide your feedback on these materials.
Your participation will help improve future campaigns, strengthen recruitment strategies, and support the development of accessible and effective treatment options.
The study aims to:
Assess perceptions of recruitment materials (campaign materials, video spots, social media posts) in terms of their clarity, relevance, and usefulness.
To understand attitudes toward treatment options.
To explore motivators and barriers to engaging with recruitment materials and seeking help.
To gather feedback and recommendations for improving recruitment materials and services.
Understanding help-seeking behavior and expectations regarding treatment options.
Do I have to participate?
Participation in this study is completely voluntary. It is your decision whether you wish to participate. If you decide to participate, you will receive this information sheet and will be asked to give your consent.
If you decide to participate, you may withdraw at any time during the interview or immediately afterward without having to provide a reason and without any negative consequences.
Please note that once your data has been anonymized and included in the analysis, it may no longer be possible to withdraw or delete your data, as it will no longer be identifiable.
What happens if I participate?
If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to:
take part in a semi-structured online interview lasting approximately 60–90 minutes.
review various materials related to treatment options and recruitment efforts and provide feedback on them.
The interview maybe over audio or conducted over chat based on your preference. The data will be audio-recorded or chat logs saved for the purpose of accurate data collection. The interview can be conducted online.
The following personal data will be collected as part of this study: age, gender, educational level, relationship status, approximate area of residence, and number of children. All identifying information will be removed after the interview is transcribed.
Are there any risks or inconveniences?
The risks associated with this study are the same as those you face in your daily life. Discussing sensitive topics may cause emotional stress. Support services are available if needed. If you feel uncomfortable answering a question, you may skip it or stop the interview.
There are no medical risks associated with data processing.
There is a potential risk of a breach of confidentiality, which is minimized through the use of secure data processing practices.
Are there any benefits to participating?
Even if you may not personally benefit from it, your participation will help us better understand the needs and experiences of people with pedophilia/hebephilia. This will help improve prevention strategies as well as future support and treatment services.
Will my participation in this study be kept confidential?
All information collected about you as part of the study will be treated as strictly confidential. The results of the study may be published for scientific purposes. No information that could reveal your identity will be published. The data will be anonymized, and all personally identifiable information, such as names, will be removed. The data will be stored securely, and only the research team will have access to it. All individuals who have access to your records are obligated to treat them confidentially and to comply with applicable data protection regulations.
Every instance of collection, storage, use, and transmission of data involves confidentiality risks (e.g., the possibility of identifying the data subject). These risks cannot be completely ruled out and increase as more data can be linked together. The study initiator assures you that they will do everything possible to protect your privacy. All identifying information collected during the interview will be removed. Please avoid making statements that could allow us to identify you.
Data Storage and Processing
The interviews are recorded (as audio recordings or chat logs) and stored temporarily. After transcription and anonymization, the raw recordings are deleted immediately. The anonymized transcripts contain no information that could directly or indirectly identify participants.
Sociodemographic data and consent forms are stored separately from the interview data and processed exclusively in pseudonymized form. Data storage is carried out in accordance with data protection regulations. Data processing takes place on secure IT systems at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Only members of the study team have access to the data.
The service arztkonsultation ak GmbH is used to schedule interviews. Participants can log-in for the interview using a one-time TAN that will be provided via email. In this process, your email address is processed solely for the purpose of scheduling the appointment. Processing is temporary, and the data is deleted immediately after the login or appointment process is completed. There is no storage or use of the data by arztkonsultation ak GmbH.
Data Protection Measures:
Data is processed in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Berlin Data Protection Act (BlnDSG), and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (India, 2023). After your participation ends, your audio recordings will be stored solely for the purpose of transcription in accordance with applicable guidelines and regulations and will be deleted immediately after they have been transcribed.
What will happen to the study’s findings?
The study’s findings will be used to develop and refine the Don’t Offend India initiative, as well as to publish reports and articles. A summary of the findings will be provided to participants upon request.
Who is organizing and funding the research?
This study is a joint initiative of Don’t Offend India and the Institute for Sexology and Sexual Medicine at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, funded by the Clinic Partnerships Program, an initiative of GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation).
Description of Participants’ Rights
You have the following rights regarding the personal data processed in connection with this study:
Withdrawal of Consent: You may withdraw your consent at any time. Please note that this does not affect the lawfulness of the processing of your data that took place prior to the withdrawal, Art. 7(3) GDPR. This means that data already included in scientific analyses is not affected by the withdrawal.
In addition, you have the right
to access all personal data processed and stored about you, as well as information about the recipients to whom the data has been or will be disclosed, Art. 15 GDPR;
to have inaccurate personal data rectified, Art. 16 GDPR;
to data portability. This refers to the transfer of the data you have provided to us for research purposes in a commonly used machine-readable format, Art. 20 GDPR, e.g., to your treating physician, provided that we collected this data based on your consent or you actively provided the data to us, e.g., by responding to surveys;
to object to the further processing of your personal data that has taken place without your consent on the basis of a public interest or to safeguard the legitimate interests of the controller(s). The objection to further processing must be justified so that it is clear that specific circumstances relating to your person outweigh the aforementioned interest in further processing, Art. 21 GDPR;
You have the right to erasure provided that certain conditions are met. This is particularly the case in the event of unlawful processing, or if the data is no longer necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or processed, if you withdraw your consent and there is no other legal basis for the data processing, or in lieu of the aforementioned objection under Article 21 of the GDPR, subject to the conditions specified therein. If erasure would frustrate or significantly impede the objectives of a research project conducted in the public interest, there is no right to erasure, Article 17(3) of the GDPR. Your personal data will be erased after a retention period of 10 years has expired.
to restrict the processing of your personal data, in particular if the processing is unlawful and you request restriction instead of erasure (see there) or as long as it is disputed whether the processing of personal data is lawful, Art. 18 GDPR.
You can only exercise the rights listed above if you provide your PIN, as this is the only way to link your data to you personally. Please keep your PIN in a safe place, as without it, we cannot link your data to you and you will therefore be unable to exercise your rights. The rights listed above apply only to the extent that your data can be linked to you personally; once your data has been anonymized, you will no longer be able to exercise these rights.
To exercise the aforementioned rights, please contact the entity responsible for processing personal data:
Prof. Dr. med. Dr. phil. Klaus M. Beier
Institute for Sexual Research and Sexual Medicine, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Luisenstraße 57
10117 Berlin
Email: klaus.beier@charite.de
Phone: 0049 30 450 529 302
For inquiries regarding data processing and compliance with data protection requirements, you may also contact the Data Protection Officer at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin:
Data Protection Officer
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Charitéplatz 1
10117 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 450 580016
Email: datenschutzbeauftragte@charite.de
If you believe that your personal data is being processed unlawfully, you may file a complaint with the supervisory authority responsible for Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin:
Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information
Alt-Moabit 59-61
10555 Berlin
Phone: +49 30 13889-0
Fax: +49 30 2155050
Email: mailbox@datenschutz-berlin.de