Document is current

Article History

Received: 31 May 2024

Accepted: 28 August 2025

First Online: 21 October 2025

Declarations

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: This study was reviewed and approved by the College of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences Research Ethics Committee, Brunel University London. It was also reviewed and authorised by the CCLHD Research Office for conduct at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals. This study adhered to the principles stated in the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki. Participation was confidential and anonymous. Upon accessing the survey, participants were provided with the participant information sheet and had to tick “yes” to an online consent form to be able to proceed. Participants could choose not to answer any question they felt uncomfortable with. Ethical aspects covered in this section were provided to participants in the study advertisement and the participant information sheet. How to access support services if distress was experienced by completing the survey was included in the debriefing statement. Only the researcher had access to the data, which was stored on the Brunel University London server for ten years and protected by a password. Supplement A includes the Participant Information Sheet, Consent Form, Debrief Statement and letters of approval by the ethics committee and the site gatekeeper.

: Participants confirmed reading the Participant Information Sheet when signing the consent form. The form explained what would happen to the results of the research study: “The anonymised data will be used for an empirical psychology project report. Only the research findings and recommendations will be shared with all CCLHD staff and made available on the intranet. It may also be published in scientific journals and presented at national and international conferences. All the survey responses will be stored anonymously. You will not be able to be identified in this report.”

: The authors declare no competing interests.