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Study organization in the Canadian Study of Health and Aging
I McDowell1, B Helliwell, E Sykes
1Department of Epidemiology & Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
International Psychogeriatrics
|March 15, 2002
Summary
The Canadian Study of Health and Aging managed complex logistics for over 10,000 participants across multiple centers. This report details organizational strategies for large-scale, multicenter health research.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Epidemiology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- The Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA) was a large-scale, multicenter research initiative.
- It involved extensive data collection from a significant elderly population across diverse geographical and linguistic settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the organizational and management strategies employed in the CSHA.
- To outline methods for participant tracking and protocol adherence monitoring.
- To discuss human organizational aspects and publication coordination in multicenter studies.
Main Methods:
- Followed 10,263 elderly individuals across 18 study centers in six time zones.
- Utilized a dynamic data collection approach, varying based on participant outcomes.
- Included screening interviews, risk factor questionnaires, clinical examinations, and specialized testing (neuropsychological, blood, neuroimaging).
Main Results:
- Successfully managed a complex, multi-site study with over 70 investigators and bilingual administration.
- Developed systems for staff training, inter-center communication, and results dissemination.
- Established protocols for participant tracking and adherence to study guidelines.
Conclusions:
- The CSHA provided valuable insights into managing large-scale, complex health research projects.
- The organizational principles developed are applicable to future multicenter studies.
- Effective management is crucial for the success of extensive epidemiological and gerontological research.