As our research team prepares to leave the US and fly to China, we are discussing the process of conducting international research. The image to the right is a letter from the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University. Each Chinese middle school receives this letter of introduction (followed by a personal phone call from Peggy), explaining the study and asking permission to visit with the school administration. Upon our arrival in China, I will have a face-to-face meeting with the president and principal of each school and describe (with Peggy's translation) our study plans. Obtaining a green light to conduct international research in China includes many levels of permission, including (for our study) a medical committee at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University and the Jinan University International Affairs Office.
In the US, we obtained a letter of approval after human subjects review at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and since middle schoolers are a protected group, we took care to ensure that their data will be kept private, secure, and treated confidentially. We are all certified in CPR, and our physical activity and exercise program will be approved by teachers in all the schools before we arrive. Exercise will be supervised by nurses and teachers, and no student will be asked to perform a skill that is too difficult or uncomfortable for their ability level.
In the US, we obtained a letter of approval after human subjects review at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and since middle schoolers are a protected group, we took care to ensure that their data will be kept private, secure, and treated confidentially. We are all certified in CPR, and our physical activity and exercise program will be approved by teachers in all the schools before we arrive. Exercise will be supervised by nurses and teachers, and no student will be asked to perform a skill that is too difficult or uncomfortable for their ability level.
Since obesity is a social, economic, and personal issue, we hope to make an impact upon all three dimensions, but only if students and their families make a commitment to lasting lifestyle changes.
Ambitiously, we hope that the increased activity and fun that will be part of Group 8 makes an indelible impact~ not only for the small groups of middle-schoolers we reach, but also for all of China ~ as the word spreads and as other schools and students participate in similar programs of enriched physical activity and sensible eating practices.
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