Five researchers from 91ÑÇÉ«'sÌýFaculty of Health are lendingÌýtheir expertise to theÌýOntario Health Study as it rolls outÌýan online survey and a series of mini clinics on the Keele campus and in the 91ÑÇÉ«-TD Community Engagement Centre in the 91ÑÇÉ«gate Mall.
Right: As part of their involvement with the Ontario Health Study, researchers will take physical measures such as blood pressure during a series of mini clinics that will be held this fall
One of the most ambitious community-based medical surveys ever conducted, theÌýstudy will track theÌýhealth of Ontario residents over the course of their lifetimes.ÌýA community health project, the is aimed at establishingÌýthe largest population-basedÌýlongitudinal cohort study ever attempted in North America, and will be the first major epidemiological surveyÌýto be conducted online.Ìý
The study will focus on identifying gene-environmentalÌýdeterminants of different chronic diseases, including cancer, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, mental health disorders and more.
As part of 91ÑÇɫ’s involvement, researchers from the School of Kinesiology & Health Science and the psychology program will be holding mini clinics this fall to collect physical measures from volunteers from 91ÑÇÉ« and its neighbouring communities. The mini-clinics will also provide a venue for the distribution of health information and health promotion materials. The 91ÑÇÉ« researchers involved in the study are: Ìý
- Professor Chris Ardern (Kinesiology & Health Science),Ìýwhose research isÌýfocused on the epidemiology of physical activity, obesity and cardio metabolic risk.Ìý
Ìý - Professor Sherry GraceÌý(Kinesiology & Health Science), a researcherÌýspecializing in cardiac psychology and the utilization of health services.
Ìý - Professor Jennifer Kuk (Kinesiology & Health Science), whose research looks atÌýobesity and related health risks (cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes) andÌýthe influence of physical activity using both exercise interventions and epidemiological approaches. |
Ìý - Professor Jane Irvine (Psychology), a researcher whose work focuses on stress and cardiovascular disease, and modifying cardiovascular behaviour and psychosocial risk factors.
Ìý - Professor Paul Ritvo (Kinesiology & Health Science), head of the Ritvo Lab and a researcher specializing in health behaviour change.
The questionnaire, which is completely voluntary, takes about 30 minutes to complete and will ask participants aboutÌýtheir general health, genetic history and lifestyle.ÌýThe studyÌýwill then follow participants over their lifespan toÌýdetermine how a variety of factors influence participants' health over a long period of time. The dataÌýcollected will in turn helpÌýresearchersÌýdevelop strategies for the prevention and treatment of diseases, as well as to inform health-policy changes.
IrvineÌýchairs theÌýsocial health component of theÌýsurvey and will work with Ritvo and Grace. Ardern and KukÌýare leading the obesity and physical activity component of the survey.ÌýAs part of their involvement with the study, theÌýresearchers will have access toÌýthe dataÌýcollected.
More information on the clinics will be forthcoming. In the meantime, 91ÑÇÉ« community members interested in learning more about theÌýstudy should visit the website.
Republished courtesy of YFile– 91ÑÇɫ’s daily e-bulletin.