Up to 200 taking part in health study
HEALTH: Ontario Health Study holding second study centre this week at Lions Community Centre
The Ontario Health Study (OHS) has returned to Peterborough for its second study centre.
As part of one of Canada’s largest health studies, OHS collects information from residents across Ontario to help researchers better understand what affects health and quality of life.
The study centre was first set up in Peterborough in August 2014, drawing out more than 100 participants.
The centre reopened Monday at the Peterborough Lions Community Centre on Burnham Street in East City to collect blood samples from participants, ranging in age from 35 to 69, who didn’t give blood at the last centre.
And while the study already has more than 110 participants signed up for the second study centre, organizers are aiming for at least 200 by Thursday’s wrap up.
The long-term study begins with a health questionnaire that needs to be completed before participants can give blood.
The questionnaire takes about an hour to complete, while blood collection takes roughly 20 minutes.
After giving blood, participants will receive a comprehensive blood analysis report indicating where their personal health lands within the reference range.
OHS program manager Kelly McDonald said the benefits of taking part in the study are twofold.
“I think that this is an opportunity for people to learn more about their own health – it’s also an opportunity for people to give back,” she said. “We know so much so much about risk factors, ways to prevent disease and ways to treat disease because other people took part in research.”
As a longitudinal study, participants will be recontacted at later dates to follow up with their health since engaging in the study.
Data collected is used to help researchers learn more about the causes of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes, while also helping to develop new way to prevent and treat them.
Peterborough County-City Health Unit spokeswoman Brittany Cadence said studies like the OHS provide the foundation for creating effective health care programs.
“Studies like this are really important locally, so we can have a robust data pool to make decisions that are evidence based as opposed to decisions that are ideological,” Cadence said.
Hours for the study centre are Tuesday and Wednesday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Participants are able to register online or walk in.
NOTE: To register for an appointment or for more information about the Ontario Health Study, visit www.ontariohealthstudy.ca/peterborough or call 1-866-606-0686.