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The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been endorsed by the ANZCTR. Before participating in a study, talk to your health care provider and refer to this
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Trial registered on ANZCTR
Registration number
ACTRN12625001056482p
Ethics application status
Submitted, not yet approved
Date submitted
10/09/2025
Date registered
24/09/2025
Date last updated
24/09/2025
Date data sharing statement initially provided
24/09/2025
Type of registration
Prospectively registered
Titles & IDs
Public title
Evaluating the impact of national social media age restrictions on adolescent wellbeing
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Scientific title
Evaluating the impact of national social media age restrictions on measures of adolescent social media use and wellbeing
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Secondary ID [1]
315356
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None
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Universal Trial Number (UTN)
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Trial acronym
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Linked study record
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Health condition
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied:
wellbeing
338840
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mental health
338841
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Condition category
Condition code
Public Health
335130
335130
0
0
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Other public health
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Mental Health
335131
335131
0
0
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Anxiety
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Mental Health
335205
335205
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0
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Other mental health disorders
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Intervention/exposure
Study type
Observational
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Patient registry
False
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Target follow-up duration
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Target follow-up type
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Description of intervention(s) / exposure
In June 2024, the Australian Government announced plans for social media age restrictions for children and adolescents under the age of 16. According to the current proposal, this will apply to the following social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), Snapchat, Tik Tok, YouTube and Reddit. Children and adolescents under the age of 16 will continue to have access to messaging and online gaming, as well as access to services which are health and education related, such as Headspace, Kids Helpline and Google Classroom.
This research project will evaluate the potential impact of the Australian social-media age restrictions by assessing adolescent social media use and wellbeing before and after the implementation of the restrictions. Participants will be asked to complete online or telephone surveys (depending on their preference) at three time points: baseline, 3- and 12-months after the implementation of the social media age-restrictions. Each survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete.
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Intervention code [1]
331960
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Not applicable
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Comparator / control treatment
No control group
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Control group
Uncontrolled
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Outcomes
Primary outcome [1]
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Adolescent social media use in the past 7 days
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Assessment method [1]
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This will be assessed using one validated survey item previously employed in national population-based surveys with adolescents (Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance, 2025). Adolescents will be asked additional items to capture information on their access to social media platforms, including how they access it (e.g. their own account or another method), perceived ease of accessing the platforms, and experience with verification checks by the platform (e.g. verifying the age of the adolescents).
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Timepoint [1]
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Baseline, 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Primary outcome [2]
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Adolescent average daily use of social media
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Assessment method [2]
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This will be assessed using one validated survey item previously employed in national population-based surveys with adolescents (EU Kids Online, 2020).
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Timepoint [2]
342813
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Baseline, 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Secondary outcome [1]
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Adolescent anxiety symptoms, including feelings of worry, restlessness and irritability
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Assessment method [1]
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This will be assessed as a composite outcome using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Assessment screening tool (GAD-7). The tool has been developed and validated for use in adolescents. Adolescents will be asked to rate the severity of their anxiety symptoms over the past two weeks on a 4-point scale, ranging from 1 (not at all) to 4 (nearly every day).
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Timepoint [1]
452036
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Baseline, 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Secondary outcome [2]
452037
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Adolescent sleep, including sleep quality and difficulty falling asleep
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Assessment method [2]
452037
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This will be assessed as a composite outcome using the PROMIS Sleep Disturbance measure validated in children and adolescents. Adolescents will be asked to respond to four survey items on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1 (very much) to 5 (not at all).
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Timepoint [2]
452037
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Baseline, 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Secondary outcome [3]
452038
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Adolescent happiness
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Assessment method [3]
452038
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This will be assessed using validated survey items developed by Lyubomirsky et al. Adolescents will be asked to respond to two survey items on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
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Timepoint [3]
452038
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Baseline, 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Secondary outcome [4]
452039
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Adolescent self-esteem
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Assessment method [4]
452039
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This will be assessed using a validated measure developed by Robins et al. Adolescents will be asked to respond to one survey item on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
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Timepoint [4]
452039
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Baseline, 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Secondary outcome [5]
452040
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Adolescent satisfaction with life
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Assessment method [5]
452040
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This will be assessed using items from the validated Satisfaction with Life measure developed by Diener et al. Adolescents will be asked to respond to three survey items on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree).
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Timepoint [5]
452040
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Baseline, 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Secondary outcome [6]
452041
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Adolescent social connectedness, including access to social and emotional support
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Assessment method [6]
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This will be assessed as a composite outcome using a validated measure developed by Gordon et al. Adolescents will be asked to respond to three survey items on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1 (never) to 5 (always).
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Timepoint [6]
452041
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Baseline, 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Secondary outcome [7]
452042
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Adolescent nutrition, including average daily intake of fruit and vegetable servings
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Assessment method [7]
452042
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This will be assessed as a composite outcome at all three time points using two validated survey items previously employed in national population-based surveys with adolescents (National Secondary Student's Diet and Activity survey, 2018).
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Timepoint [7]
452042
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Baseline and 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Secondary outcome [8]
452043
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Parental social media mediation of adolescent social media use
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Assessment method [8]
452043
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Parents will be asked to respond to series of validated survey items developed by Ho et al. to capture information regarding their use of strategies to mediate their adolescent’s social media use. These strategies include active mediation (e.g. talking to their child about social media); restrictive mediation (e.g. enforcing rules or limits on social media use); co-use; authoritarian surveillance (e.g. checking their child’s social media without their knowledge); non-intrusive inspection (e.g. casually glancing at their child’s phone when nearby) and problematic use and preoccupation (e.g. adolescent finding it difficult to reduce use or focus on other things). Parents will be asked to respond to each item on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1 always) to 5 (never).
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Timepoint [8]
452043
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Baseline and 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions).
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Secondary outcome [9]
452044
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Parent acceptability of potential strategies to limit adolescent social media use
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Assessment method [9]
452044
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Parents will be asked to respond to seven survey items developed by the research team to assess their acceptability of strategies that have been recommended by national health agencies to limit adolescent social media use. These strategies include legislative and policy changes, increased monitoring of age by social media platforms and schools educating students in safe social media use. Parents will be asked to rate the acceptability to each strategy on a 5-point scale, ranging from 1 (highly unacceptable) to 5 (highly acceptable).
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Timepoint [9]
452044
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Baseline and 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions).
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Secondary outcome [10]
452244
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Adolescent physical activity, including the number of days per week spent being physically active for at least 60 minutes
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Assessment method [10]
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This will be assessed at all three time points using one validated survey item previously employed in national population-based surveys with adolescents (Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children, 2018).
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Timepoint [10]
452244
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Baseline, 3-months (approximately 3-months post the implementation of the social media age restrictions) and 12-months.
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Eligibility
Key inclusion criteria
Parent-adolescent dyads, consisting of adolescents aged between 12 to 17 years, located within Australia will be eligible. Dyads must have sufficient English to engage with the data collection.
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Minimum age
12
Years
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Maximum age
17
Years
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Sex
Both males and females
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Can healthy volunteers participate?
Yes
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Key exclusion criteria
N/A
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Study design
Purpose
Natural history
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Duration
Longitudinal
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Selection
Defined population
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Timing
Prospective
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Statistical methods / analysis
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Recruitment
Recruitment status
Not yet recruiting
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Date of first participant enrolment
Anticipated
1/10/2025
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Actual
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Date of last participant enrolment
Anticipated
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Actual
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Date of last data collection
Anticipated
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Actual
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Sample size
Target
500
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Accrual to date
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Final
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Recruitment in Australia
Recruitment state(s)
ACT,NSW,NT,QLD,SA,TAS,WA,VIC
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Funding & Sponsors
Funding source category [1]
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University
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Name [1]
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University of Newcastle
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Address [1]
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Country [1]
319941
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Australia
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Primary sponsor type
University
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Name
University of Newcastle
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Address
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Country
Australia
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Secondary sponsor category [1]
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None
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Name [1]
322468
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Address [1]
322468
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Country [1]
322468
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Ethics approval
Ethics application status
Submitted, not yet approved
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Ethics committee name [1]
318477
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The University of Newcastle Human Research Ethics Committee
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Ethics committee address [1]
318477
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http://www.newcastle.edu.au/research/research-services/human-ethics/
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Ethics committee country [1]
318477
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Australia
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Date submitted for ethics approval [1]
318477
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18/08/2025
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Approval date [1]
318477
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Ethics approval number [1]
318477
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Summary
Brief summary
In response to growing concerns about the effects of social media on young people’s health and wellbeing, the Australian Government has announced plans to restrict access to social media platforms for children and adolescents aged under 16 years of age, to be enforced through age verification systems. This study aims to assess the potential impact of the national social media age restrictions on adolescent social media use and wellbeing outcomes. This study will collect self-reported data from parent-adolescent dyads (aged 12-17 years) via three surveys conducted before and after (3- and 12-months) the social media age restrictions are implemented. Measures will assess changes to adolescent mental health, sleep quality, physical activity, nutrition, and patterns of social media use prior to, and after, the age restrictions are implemented. The findings will provide timely evidence to inform public health and digital policy and contribute to the limited literature on large-scale social media regulation.
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Trial website
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Trial related presentations / publications
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Public notes
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Contacts
Principal investigator
Name
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Prof Luke Wolfenden
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Address
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University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308
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Country
144322
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Australia
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Phone
144322
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+61 02 4924 6472
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Fax
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Email
144322
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[email protected]
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Contact person for public queries
Name
144323
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Dr Courtney Barnes
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Address
144323
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University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308
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Country
144323
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Australia
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Phone
144323
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+61 02 4924 6472
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Fax
144323
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Email
144323
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[email protected]
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Contact person for scientific queries
Name
144324
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Dr Courtney Barnes
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Address
144324
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University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW, 2308
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Country
144324
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Australia
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Phone
144324
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+61 02 4924 6472
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Fax
144324
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Email
144324
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[email protected]
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Data sharing statement
Will the study consider sharing individual participant data?
No
No IPD sharing reason/comment:
No individual participant data for this trial will be available as ethics approval does not cover this. If a request for individual participant data is made and appropriate ethics approvals obtained, such data may be made available in the future.
What supporting documents are/will be available?
No Supporting Document Provided
Results publications and other study-related documents
Documents added manually
No documents have been uploaded by study researchers.
Documents added automatically
No additional documents have been identified.
Download to PDF