DR FRANK ATHERTON
COLUMNIST
AS MEDICAL technology advances in complexity and scale, it’s perhaps easy to forget that we can all play an important role in research to improve health and wellbeing.
Health research is vital to shaping the future of healthcare in Wales, and it’s more important than ever that the public plays its part in this process. Health research participation doesn’t necessarily mean clinical trials, either. One simple way in which the public can have a role is through HealthWise Wales, the largest and most far-reaching health population survey ever progressed in Wales.
HealthWise Wales is an ambitious research study driven by a collaborative team of researchers at Cardiff and Swansea universities. Funded by the Welsh Government, the study aims to better understand the health and wellbeing of the nation by asking participants to answer a 10-minute online survey about their health, lifestyle and wellbeing every six months. What is a relatively short investment of time will be hugely significant in providing insights into the health needs of future generations.
The information provided to HealthWise Wales will help the NHS in Wales plan for the future, and it will also give people, aged 16 and over, the opportunity to take part in specific research projects being carried out in Wales.
At present, fewer than 25% of people signed up to HealthWise Wales are male. The medical research gender gap may be well-documented, but it is an issue which needs to be addressed to ensure better health outcomes across the population.
Gender gap aside, many people are unaware of the vital insights they can provide in supplying basic information that could identify emerging trends in people’s health and wellbeing.
Other flagship studies and surveys, such as the UK’s Biobank survey and the Caerphilly Cohort, are examples of how population-based research can help shape future healthcare development. More than 2,000 middle-aged men have taken part in the Caerphilly Cohort during the past 35 years, which has led to more than 400 research papers on important topics, such as the long-term effects of smoking, the benefits of having been breast-fed, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
By taking part in surveys like HealthWise Wales, approved organisations and researchers will have access to the confidential data obtained, which can help facilitate studies and lead to new health insights. This collaborative working, utilising a diverse range of skillsets and experience, is essential to better understanding the nation’s health and wellbeing, especially given the constantly evolving nature of science and our biological and environmentalmake-up.
Knowledge is power when it comes to healthcare information, and by identifying and understanding any trends and factors, researchers will have better knowledge as to how environmental and biological factors can lead to certain illness, and this is where preventative medicine can be created to help Wales become a healthier nation.
HealthWise Wales wants participants of all ages and ethnic backgrounds to register, including those who are fit or unwell. People can register with HealthWise Wales by accessing the online questionnaire at healthwisewales.gov.wales/doethamiechydcymru.llyw.cym. Alternatively, people can register by phone on 0800 9 172 172/029 2076 8090.
■ Dr Frank Atherton is the Chief Medical Officer for Wales