Basic telephone scripts to introduce a study should include the following:

• An introduction that gives the name and affiliation of the person calling, e.g., Bucky Badger from the Department of Medicine at UW-Madison.
• The reason for the call: to invite the person to take part in a research study being conducted by [PI’s name]. The study team member should state why they are calling that particular individual about the study, e.g. “You’re being invited to participate because you recently had surgery on X condition.”
• A brief description of the purpose of the study and what the potential subject would need to do if they decide to participate. This must also include a statement that participation is voluntary.
• An opportunity for the potential subject to ask questions. Simply asking “Do you have any questions about the study?” is sufficient.
• After all questions have been answered, the study team member may ask if the potential subject is interested in proceeding to the next step in recruitment for the study (e.g., scheduling a visit to learn more and go through the consent process, or answering some screening questions).
• Language that will be used if the potential subject does not answer the telephone and a) the research team plans to leave a message on an answering machine or voice mail; or b) someone other than the potential subject answers the telephone. Please note that protected health information should not be disclosed in either of these cases. An example message could be “Hello, I am calling to talk to X about a research study. My name is X and I am from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.”