The Grey Bruce Health Unit and the Ontario Health Study (OHS) invite local residents to participate in a long-term research study about their health.
Area residents, aged 30-74 years, are encouraged to register at one of two Local Study Centre locations, June 13-14 in Markdale and June 15-16 in Durham. They will be asked to complete a short questionnaire and provide a blood sample that will enable researchers to better understand what affects both health and quality of life. Each participant will receive a comprehensive blood analysis report of where their personal health falls within a reference range.
"By enrolling in this study, local residents can support research that will investigate the influence of environmental impacts on health, such as industrial wind turbines," says Dr. Hazel Lynn, Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health. "People need to understand there are no quick fixes to understanding the issues that influence our health. Long-term studies, such as the Ontario Health Study, offer a credible means to gather the data we need as we search for the answers."
Getting started:
Becoming involved is simple.
• Participants who have already completed the OHS questionnaire online will receive an email invitation to take part.
• New participants can visit www.ontariohealthstudy.ca/. Join to register and complete the online questionnaire. It only takes about an hour.
• Schedule an appointment using the online booking tool and visit the Markdale or Durham Study Centre. Early morning and evening appointments are available.
• To talk with an OHS staff member call 1-866-606-0686 or email [email protected].
Study Centre locations and hours of operation:
Markdale: Markdale Fire Station, 200 Isla Street
Monday June 13, 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday June 14, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Durham: Durham and District Community Centre, 451 Saddler Street West
Wednesday, June 15, 9am-8:30pm
Thursday, June 16, 9am-5:30pm
More than 235,000 Ontarians have taken the Ontario Health Study's online questionnaire. Results from the Study may help improve the prevention and diagnosis of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
"The information provided in the OHS questionnaire by participants gives us an overall snapshot of the health of Ontarians as well as their exposure to common risk factors," says Dr. Philip Awadalla, Executive Scientific Director of the OHS. "Combining questionnaire responses with a blood sample provided at one of the Markdale and Durham Study Centres allows us to get a more detailed look at their health. These data allow researchers to draw comprehensive conclusions about the health of the overall population."
The OHS is just one piece of an even larger national effort called the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project (CPTP) that includes four other regional studies: The BC Generations Project; Alberta's Tomorrow Project; Quebec's CARTaGENE; and, the Atlantic PATH. Nationally, the CPTP has more than 300,000 participants and more than 125,000 have provided a blood sample.
If you have any questions, speak to an OHS staff member by emailing [email protected] or calling 1-866-606-0686.
The OHS follows strict privacy practices that govern how personal information is collected, who can see it and how it can be used.
source: media release, Grey Bruce Health Unit
