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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?
All of the following procedures will be performed at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health study site (Tahir Foundation Building, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549).
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 with Session 2 on the same day.
WHO CAN TAKE PART?
- Singaporeans/PRs
- 21 years old and above
- Chinese, Malay or Indian ethnicity
- Willing to be audio-recorded during the consent-taking and face-to-face interview of this study.
- Willing to provide your NRIC number for the purpose of this study.
- Willing to provide access to data held by other organisations for the purposes of this research study.
- 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.
FULL STUDY INFORMATION AND CONSENT FOR PARTICIPATION
Participation Information Sheet
Consent Form for Interview
Consent Form for Study Site Visit
Your written consent on both forms 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?
SPHS has appointed EA Research & Consulting Pte Ltd (EARC) to recruit participants for this study.
If you would like to take part, you may contact EARC at 68177811, 68177813 or 68177814, or to go to https://earesearchconsulting.simplybook.asia/v2/ to provide your details for eligibility screening and scheduling of your study visit.
FAQs
Confirmation of study visit appointment.
You will receive a confirmation of your appointment by email. A reminder email will be sent at least 2 days before your appointment from sphs@companyea.com. Should you request the reminder to be sent via SMS, you will receive the SMS at least 2 days before your appointment.
EARC may contact you to confirm your attendance a few days before your appointment. If you see a phone number like ‘6817xxxx’ and it does not start with ‘+65’, please do not immediately dismiss it as a suspected scam call.
Please contact EA Research & Consulting (EARC) should you need to reschedule your appointment.
Fasting requirements, medications and other preparations for the study site visit.
- 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.
- Try to avoid strenuous exercise within 24 hours of your appointment.
- Do not eat or drink within 10-12 hours before your appointment. You may drink plain water.
- If you have high blood pressure, please take your medication as per normal unless it is to be taken after food.
- 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.
- Avoid calcium supplements for at least 24 hours before your appointment.
- Please avoid wearing thick or compression clothing around the lower body to enable accurate measurement of the waist and hip.
- 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.
- You will be asked to remove all of your clothes except your underwear and to wear an examination gown during the full body 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.
- 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.
- You must not have had a contrast media radiological examination or nuclear scan within 7 days before your visit.
- 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).
Note:
- 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.
What are the hours available for the study site visit?
Appointment slots are available between 8am and 12pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
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).
Can my family members join this study with me?
Anyone who meets the eligibility criteria can take part in this study.
I have fallen ill/developed a fever and my appointment is due in 1-5 days (or earlier), should I postpone my appointment?
Yes, please contact EA Research & Consulting (EARC) to reschedule your appointment to at least 1 week later.
(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 EARC at 68177811, 68177813 or 68177814 or e-mail us at sphs@companyea.com to cancel your appointment.
Last updated on 15 May 2024