Information needed

What information is needed for this study?

For this study we need to collect information about 3 specific areas of your life.
These are:

  1. Your mobile phone use – the questionnaire covers your past and current use of mobile phones and other new technologies. This will be supplemented with mobile phone records from your network operator(s), such as the frequency and duration of your mobile phone use, both for your contract subscription & pay-as-you-go phones. This information will not include any details identifying phone numbers that you call or those of people who call you. In order to continue to obtain mobile phone records from your network operator(s) over the study follow-up period, it is important for us to know whether you have changed to a different network operator or changed phone number. You can keep us informed of any changes by clicking here, by emailing ukcosmos@imperial.ac.uk, or by calling freephone 08000 270 270 (Monday - Friday 10:00am - 5:30pm). Alternatively, we will obtain this information from network operators.
  2. Your health – the questionnaire covers aspects of your past and current health. Imperial College will follow your health directly through routine medical and other health-related records, e.g., cancer registrations, using your NHS number, linked to your name, address, and date of birth.
  3. Your lifestyle – the questionnaire covers aspects of your lifestyle such as smoking, diet, and exercise as these are relevant to your long term health.

Why do you need my consent?

We need your consent to comply with Data Protection laws and observe the common law duty of confidentiality owed to patients. This gives Imperial College your permission to hold and use information that identifies you. It also allows us to follow up on any changes to your health and obtain information from your mobile network operator(s) on your mobile phone use.

How can I withdraw my consent?

You have the right to withdraw at any time. If you are considering withdrawing from the study, please contact the freephone number 08000 270 270 (Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 5:30pm).

If you do decide to withdraw, you will have the following options concerning future contact and use of your data:

  1. No further contact – this means that COSMOS would no longer contact you directly, but would still have your permission to retain and use information provided previously and to obtain and use further information from your health records.
  2. No further access – this means that COSMOS would no longer contact you or obtain further information from your health records in the future, but would still have your permission to use the information provided previously.
  3. No further use – this means that, in addition to no longer contacting you or obtaining further information, COSMOS would destroy all of your information previously provided.