Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who are the sponsors of this study?

• University of Michigan, School of Public Health
• University Housing
• University Health Service
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (funder)

2. Why conduct a study testing face masks and hand hygiene when we already have flu vaccines?

The World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consider an influenza pandemic a serious public health threat. Pharmaceutical interventions such as flu vaccines might not be available at the time of a pandemic influenza outbreak. Therefore, we are evaluating the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions for preventing the spread of seasonal influenza.

3. What are the different levels of participation?

• Face mask only (and weekly online surveys)
• Face mask and hand sanitizer (and weekly online surveys)
• Control (weekly online surveys only)

4. How do I know which study arm I will be in?

Your level of participation depends on which house within your residence hall you live in. Houses will be randomly assigned to intervention or comparison groups. All residents of a house will be assigned to a single study intervention or control group. You will be contacted by M-FLU once your house assignment has been determined.

5. Do I have to fill out surveys?

• One demographic survey
• Eight weekly surveys asking about hygiene practices and the occurrence of illness symptoms
• One exit survey

6. How much will I get for participating in the study?

• $25 per visit with specimen collection
• $100 if you are in one of the two study arms using face masks (face mask group; face mask and hand sanitizer group) for wearing a face mask for a minimum of six hours a day and completing all weekly online surveys
• $40 if you are in the control arm for completing all weekly online surveys.

7. Where do I go to receive my money?

For Specimen Collection: After providing specimens for virus identification, you will receive a Subject Fee Payment Request Form ($25 denomination). Please take this form to the location listed below (note: not the cashier's office at UHS) with 2 forms of identification to receive your payment.

For Participation: Within two weeks of the end of the study you will receive a Subject Fee Payment Request Form in your residence hall mailbox. Please take this form to the location listed below (note: not the cashier's office at UHS) with 2 forms of identification to receive your payment.

CENTRAL CAMPUS 
Please note that the Central Campus Cashier's Office has relocated to Student Financial Operations:  

University of Michigan 
Student Financial Operations  
2226 Student Activities Building 
515 E. Jefferson  
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1316  
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. M-F  
Phone: (734) 764-8230  
Toll Free Phone: 877.840.4738 (From within the US and Canada ONLY) 
Fax: (734) 763-3126  

NORTH CAMPUS

Please note that the North Campus Cashier’s Office no longer accepts Subject Fee Payment Request Forms. Please go to the Central Campus Cashier’s Office for this service.

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8. What happens when I have flu symptoms during the study?

Once the study starts, if you're not feeling well and think you may have influenza, we invite you to provide throat and nasal specimens for virus identification at selected locations on north and central campus.

You are eligible for specimen collection if you have illness with cough and at least one of the following symptoms: fever/feverishness; fever/feverishness, chills, or body aches.

We will be collecting specimens every weekday afternoon at University Health Services. We will also have staff available to collect specimens during evening dining hours on north campus at Bursley Hall and at two residence halls on central campus, TBA. Unlike last year, with the new rapid tests we will be using we will be able to provide you with results within 10 minutes of collecting a nasal swab. We will provide $25 per visit with specimen collection.

9. Is it safe?

There are essentially no risks associated with the appropriate use of hand sanitizer and face masks.

10. Will the throat and nasal swabs hurt?

There might be some discomfort and tearing of the eyes when the throat and nasal swab specimens are collected. But rest assured that this standard procedure will be performed by a trained clinical research assistant, so the discomfort, if any, will be kept to a minimum.

11. What if I need to see a doctor?

All UM students have access to physicians at UHS, a partner in this study; so any participant requiring care can be seen in their facilities.