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. 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.

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.

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 info@ontariohealthstudy.ca

How You and Your Friends Can Help

If you believe in the importance of the Ontario Health Study (OHS), share your commitment with the people in your life and help the Study grow by becoming an OHS Community Champion.

The goal is to build one of the largest health studies in the world – in order to do this we need to recruit as many Ontarians as possible into the Ontario Health Study. This is a landmark Canadian project and we can’t do it alone.

To become a Community Champion, tell your friends, family members, neighbours and co-workers about the Ontario Health Study and encourage them to take part.

All you need to do to help is to tell five people in your life about the Study. More if you’re feeling ambitious! Here are a couple of easy ways to spread the word:

1. Email the OHS website link to your contacts and encourage them to visit and explore the site.
2. Share an OHS brochure or bookmark with them. You can order them at the Order Materials page.

To thank you for your commitment and your help.

If you have questions or comments about the OHS or how to be a Community Champion, please call 1-866-606-0686 or email info@OntarioHealthStudy.ca.

It’s easy to be an OHS Community Champion:

• Start by telling your family, friends and colleagues about the Study and why you’ve chosen to participate.
• Ask at least five people you know to take part in the OHS.
• Follow the Ontario Health Studey on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
• Order OHS brochures and bookmarks to share with others.

What is the Personalized Home Page?

The Ontario Health Study has created a new personalized home page, designed specifically with you in mind! All you need to do to access your personalized home page is to log in to your account. You can enjoy spending time on your new home page, it is a useful, informative and an easy way to stay involved with the Study. Check out some of the new images below

Benefits of Your Personalized Home Page

Your new home page is where you’ll find health news tailored to you based on the information you have provided in the OHS questionnaires, interesting articles, links to OHS videos and news, and a cool tool that lets you look at Study facts, such as the breakdown of OHS participants by age, sex and ethnicity. Your personalized home page is also where you can go to change your personal information or Study preferences (such as how often OHS may contact you) and it’s where they will contact you with information about follow-up questionnaires and invitations to visit an OHS Assessment Centres. Your home page also features a Next Step box that will always be there to guide you through additional activities that you can take part in, such as follow-up questionnaires and assessment centre openings.

For more information: Personalized Home Page

https://ontariohealthstudy.ca/en/your-personal-home-page

If you have any questions, speak to an OHS staff member by emailing info@ontariohealthstudy.ca 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.

Jocelyn Garrett

Ontario Health Study

Jocelyn.garrett@ontariohealthstudy.ca

647-259-8936 or 905-825-4295