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Ethical Issues

The researchers are acutely aware of the need to be unobtrusive and of the potential effect that they could have on the receiver-practitioner interaction. Every step will be made to ensure that the receiver-practitioner relationship and treatment will not be compromised. All practitioners and therapy users will be asked if they are willing to be participate in the study. An information leaflet will be provided to all participants informing them of the purpose, individual value and wider benefit of the study. It will be stressed that at any time either can withdraw their consent at any time. All data will be confidential to the research team. No names or other identifying characteristics will be used in any reports on the study and all data will be completely anonymous.

In Phase Two, the relevant national association, on behalf of the research team, will obtain the practitioner's consent. This will involve written consent and agreement by the practitioner to the adoption of the standardised research protocol in all its parts. In particular, the practitioner will agree to strict anonymity requirements for all user-related data, releasing these only to the research team and/or its local national representatives. In addition, the shiatsu practitioner will obtain consent from all new users, obtaining written agreement via the project's consent form, passing a copy of the completed form on to the national association, and onwards to the research team.

The research proposal will be sent for approval of appropriate Research Ethics Committees in each country.