Multi-ethnic Cohort Phase 3 Study Information for Volunteers

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WHAT IS THIS RESEARCH STUDY ABOUT?

Multi-ethnic Cohort Phase 3 (MEC3) is a research study conducted by the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health’s Singapore Population Health Studies (SPHS) group. The MEC3 is a long-term health study to find out how socio-economic factors, environment, lifestyle, genes and biological factors can affect well-being, health and spread of diseases in the population. Studying these factors will help researchers find ways to prevent disease, improve health or improve current treatment methods for patients. This study also aims to evaluate the effectiveness of health programmes and treatments, and the economic burden of diseases.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

 

WHO CAN TAKE PART?

  1. Singaporeans/PRs
  2. 21 years old and above
  3. Chinese, Malay or Indian ethnicity
  4. Willing to be audio-recorded during the consent-taking and face-to-face interview of this study.
  5. Willing to provide your NRIC number for the purpose of this study.
  6. Willing to provide access to data held by other organisations for the purposes of this research study.
  7. Do not currently have a mental condition that impairs your ability to understand the information and instructions related to this study.

Participants who think they might be pregnant or are currently pregnant may begin their participation 3 months after giving birth.

OUTREACH

Ethnic Malays and Indians are currently underrepresented in this study. Please reach out to those who may be interested to participate by sharing this website.

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FULL STUDY INFORMATION AND CONSENT FOR PARTICIPATION

Participation Information Sheet
Consent Form for Interview
Consent Form for Study Site Visit

Note: the study site visit component of this research is optional. You will only need to sign the ‘Consent Form for Interview’ if you do not wish to participate in the study site visit. If you participate in the study site visit, your written consent will be taken in the presence of a qualified witness at the start of your visit.

Witness Criteria

The witness must be 21 years old or older, and can be a member of the study team or the participant’s family, but not the consent taker/recruiter. The role of the witness is to ascertain:
a) the identity of the participant giving consent;
b) that the participant had the study fully explained in a language understood by him/her;
c) that the participant understands the nature, risks and benefits of his/her participation in the study; and
d) that the consent was given voluntarily without any coercion or intimidation.

HOW TO TAKE PART?

Click to sign-up
  1. Click the button above to declare your eligibility and register for this study by providing your personal details.
  2. Within 2-8 weeks after you have registered, an interviewer assigned by SPHS will contact you to arrange a time for the interview.
  3. The interviewer will explain the study information (available in the Participation Information Sheet) to you and obtain your consent before beginning any interview. If you wish to participate in the study site visit, the interviewer will book an appointment for you.

If you are eligible and not able to self-register at the given link you may contact the SPHS at 64789608 (Mondays to Fridays from 8.30am to 5.30pm, except public holidays) or email your name, preferred language(s), address and contact number to sphs@nus.edu.sg.

FAQs

How to make an appointment for the study site visit?

At the end of the health interview, the recruiter will provide you information about the study site visit including the procedures and their risks and then help to book the appointment. You will receive confirmation of your appointment by SMS. A reminder SMS will be sent at least a day before your appointment. Our SMSes are only sent from “NUS-SPHS”.

When you attend the study site visit, the staff will screen you for your eligibility to proceed with the procedures of Session 2. If eligible, the staff will arrange for you to continue to Session 2 on the same day.

Things to Note Before Your Visit

  1. You must not have had a contrast media radiological examination or nuclear scan within 7 days before your visit.
  2. Your visit would have to be postponed if you wear any monitoring devices that cannot be removed for the DXA scan (e.g. continuous glucose monitoring device, Holter monitor, GPS/location monitor).
  3. If you have fallen ill or have developed a fever within 5 days of your appointment, please postpone by 1 week.
  4. Try to avoid strenuous exercise and calcium supplements 24 hours before your appointment.
  5. Do not eat or drink within 10-12 hours before your appointment. You may continue to drink plain water.
  6. The study site is a research laboratory with electrical and sharp equipment and hot water flasks. We do not advise young children to be brought to the site if they will be left unsupervised at any time during the visit.

Things to Note on the Day of Your Visit

  1. Bring along your NRIC for your appointment. If you wear contact lenses, please also bring along your contact lens case. If you wear dentures/dental retainers, please also bring a container for it.
  2. Light refreshments such as bread and biscuits are available after blood taking. You may wish to bring your own food. The study visit does not include a lunch break. You can eat during the interview or request for a lunch break (this will extend the time).
  3. If you have high blood pressure, please take your medication as per normal unless it is to be taken after food.
  4. If you have diabetes, please do NOT take your medication for diabetes on the morning of your appointment. Bring along all your other regular medications with you and take them after your blood samples have been taken.
  5. Please avoid wearing thick or compression clothing around the lower body to enable accurate measurement of the waist and hip.
  6. Please wear a 2-piece garment with a top that has full front buttons or zip, as ECG electrodes will be placed on and around your chest area.
  7. You will be asked to remove all of your clothes except your underwear and to wear an examination gown during the full body scan. Muslim females are advised to wear instant/sports hijab so that it is easier to remove for the scan and to wear it after the scan. You may want to bring a sweater or jacket to wear over the gown to keep warm while waiting for your turn to undergo the full body scan. The temperature in the laboratory is 18-21 degree Celsius.
  8. You will also be asked to remove jewelry, removable dental appliances, hearing aid, eyeglasses and any metal objects or clothing with buttons or metal hooks/wires that might interfere with the scan.

What are the hours available for the study site visit?

Appointment slots are generally available between 8am and 10.15am for Monday to Saturday, except Wednesday, Sunday and public holidays.

How do I reschedule my appointment?

You can contact your recruiter to reschedule your appointment.

The study site may contact you to confirm your attendance a few days before your appointment. If you see a phone number like ‘6601xxxx’/ ‘8020xxxx’/ ‘8030xxxx’) and it does not start with ‘+65’, please do not immediately dismiss it as a suspected scam call.

How do I get to the study site?

The study site is located at Tahir Foundation Building (MD1), 12 Science Drive 2, #11-01G, Singapore 117549 (PDF map and directions).

How do I verify that the recruiter is assigned by SPHS to conduct this study?

The recruiter visiting your house for the survey will carry a photo ID card bearing the school’s logo. They will also carry a letter from Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health (NUS) stating that they have been authorised to recruit participants for the SPHS. You can contact us at 6478 9608 (Mon – Fri from 8.30am to 5.30pm, except public holidays) or email us at sphs@nus.edu.sg if you have any queries about the recruiter.

Can my family members join this study with me?

Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria can take part in this study.

Can I decide on the interview time and venue?

Yes, you may arrange with the recruiter who has contacted you for a time and venue convenient for you to undergo the health interview. The interview may be conducted via telephone call, video call or in-person. In-person interviews could be conducted at a venue you think would be more quiet or private if not your home, or at the NUS study site. Please prepare the medications that you currently take for the interviewer to record. The information required are the name of the medication, active ingredients, frequency and strength of dosage.

(For female participants only) I discovered that I am pregnant after I have gotten the appointment for the study site visit. Can I still attend the visit?

Please contact the SPHS at 6478 9608 or e-mail us at sphs@nus.edu.sg to cancel your appointment.

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Last updated on 18 October 2024