You are invited to participate in a research study conducted at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the American University of Beirut (AUB). It is important that you read the information below carefully before agreeing to participate in the study, to understand the purpose, actions, benefits and risks related to your participation in the study.
If you decide to participate in this study, you will be one of 1,500 participants across the nation participating in an on the interlink between household food security, financial planning and food resource management as well as implications on food waste generation post the COVID-19 crisis.
The completion of the online survey or a phone interview should take approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
The purpose of the current study is to explore the impact of COVID-19 and the current economic crisis on the food security, financial management practices and food waste behavior of Lebanese households. In particular the objectives are to: 1) Disentangle the impacts of socioeconomic factors, financial, and food resource management skills on food and nutrition security and food waste generation amid the COVID-19 pandemic; 2) Explore the interlinkages between household food security and financial and food resource management skills whilst highlighting the effects of COVID-19 pandemic and the Lebanese financial crisis; 3) Examine the link between food waste and food security; 4) Identify key gaps and recommend priority actions required; and 5) Identify key stakeholders and propose intervention entry points and policy recommendations.
Risks, Discomforts, and Benefits
There are no anticipated risks associated with your participation in this study. There are no wrong or right answers so be honest and express yourself with no hesitation. If at any time or for any reason, you would prefer not to answer any questions, please feel free to select "refuse to answer" or "no answer". You will not be penalized for deciding to stop participation at any time.
There are no direct benefits expected from this study however findings from the present study will attempt to map household food waste generation by food security status. In addition, this study will help formulate effective policy interventions incentives for the reduction and redirection of waste at the household level.
Confidentiality
The data you provide will be kept strictly confidential. Only the members of the research group will have access to the data that will be used for research purposes only. Electronic versions of the data will be secured and locked by a password at PI’s office computer at AUB. Records will be monitored and may be audited by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) or/and our staff while assuring confidentiality.
Please understand that your participation is entirely on a voluntary basis and you have the right to withdraw your consent or discontinue participation at any time without penalty. Refusal to participate or withdrawal from the study will involve no penalty or loss of benefits for you and it will not affect your relationship with your respective university or with AUB or AUBMC.
However, your participation will assist us in laying down the groundwork for further studies and programs that aim at exploring the relationship between food security and food waste management at the household level, and identifying if financial planning and food resource management skills can be good intervention entry points during current and future health crises.
Contact Information and Questions
If you have any questions or concerns about the research you may contact:
Dr. Mohammad Abiad, Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences-AUB
Tel: 961-1-350000 (Ext: 4824/4412/4546) E-mail: ma192@aub.edu.lb
Dr. Lamis Jomaa, Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences-AUB
Tel: 961-1-350000 (Ext 4544) E-mail: lj18@aub.edu.lb
Dr. Ali Chalak, Faculty of Agricultural & Food Sciences- AUB
Tel: 961-1-350000 (Ext 4502) E-mail: ac22@aub.edu.lb
If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about your rights as a participant in this research, you can contact the following office at AUB:
Social & Behavioral Sciences Institutional Review Board
Address: American University of Beirut; Riad El Solh, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon
Tel: 00961 1 374374, Ext: 5445 Email: irb@aub.edu.lb
Participant Consent:
If after reading the consent document and having your questions answered, you voluntarily agree to take part in the study; you can access the survey by clicking on the next button.
There are 40 questions in this survey.
