Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are my responses to the Hearing Study Supplemental Questionnaire (HSSQ) safe? Who will have access to the data?
A: The security of your personal information is our highest priority and all procedures are reviewed by the Harvard-affiliated Partners HealthCare Institutional Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research. We keep your name and address in highly secured files, and all information that you provide is stored separately and identified by study ID only. We will never give your name, address, or any personally identifiable information to anyone else. Our website uses encrypted transmission of data to ensure that your responses cannot be intercepted as they are sent to our computer servers.
All data from the Nurses’ Health Studies (including questionnaire responses, medical information, and name and address information) are kept strictly confidential. We never release individual information about any participant to anyone for any reason. We do not sell, rent, or lend our mailing list to any other group.
The Nurses’ Health Studies comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations concerning the storage and sharing of data. To protect your answers to our questionnaires, each member of these cohorts is assigned a unique ID number that is printed on paper questionnaires and used as a Username for the web-based survey. The ID allows us to match your current responses with your questionnaire data from previous years, without using your name or address.
This answer was adapted from information on the main Nurses' Health Study website as well as the website for the Nurses' Health Study 3.
Q: Do the Nurses' Health Studies comply with federal research regulations?
A: The Nurses' Health Studies are in compliance with federal research regulations that require us to include the following information:
Q: How do I change my contact information?
A: You may email the information to [email protected] or mail it to the following address:
Nurses’ Health Study
Channing Laboratory
181 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Telephone: 617-525-2279
Fax: 617-525-2008
If you are providing a new last name or mailing address, please include:
Q: Will I be able to see the results of this research?
A: Yes. The major results of this research, when published, will be included in the annual newsletter sent to all members of the Nurses' Health Study and Nurses' Health Study II. Each individual publication which result from CHEARS analyses will also be added to this website, under the Publications tab.
Q: What if I have a question not answered here?
A: If you are a study participant, or just an interested member of the public, and have a question about any of the Nurses' Health Study cohorts that we have not answered here, please send us an e-mail. The CHEARS e-mail address is: [email protected].
A: The security of your personal information is our highest priority and all procedures are reviewed by the Harvard-affiliated Partners HealthCare Institutional Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects in Research. We keep your name and address in highly secured files, and all information that you provide is stored separately and identified by study ID only. We will never give your name, address, or any personally identifiable information to anyone else. Our website uses encrypted transmission of data to ensure that your responses cannot be intercepted as they are sent to our computer servers.
All data from the Nurses’ Health Studies (including questionnaire responses, medical information, and name and address information) are kept strictly confidential. We never release individual information about any participant to anyone for any reason. We do not sell, rent, or lend our mailing list to any other group.
The Nurses’ Health Studies comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations concerning the storage and sharing of data. To protect your answers to our questionnaires, each member of these cohorts is assigned a unique ID number that is printed on paper questionnaires and used as a Username for the web-based survey. The ID allows us to match your current responses with your questionnaire data from previous years, without using your name or address.
This answer was adapted from information on the main Nurses' Health Study website as well as the website for the Nurses' Health Study 3.
Q: Do the Nurses' Health Studies comply with federal research regulations?
A: The Nurses' Health Studies are in compliance with federal research regulations that require us to include the following information:
- There are no direct benefits to you from participating in this study. The risk of breach of confidentiality associated with participation in this study is very small. Your choice to participate in this study is completely voluntary and you may decline or withdraw at any time without penalty.
- You may skip any question you do not wish to answer. You will not receive monetary compensation for participating.
- If you have any questions regarding your rights as a research participant you are encouraged to call a representative of the Human Subjects Committee at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (617-424-4100).
Q: How do I change my contact information?
A: You may email the information to [email protected] or mail it to the following address:
Nurses’ Health Study
Channing Laboratory
181 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
Telephone: 617-525-2279
Fax: 617-525-2008
If you are providing a new last name or mailing address, please include:
- Your previous name or address
- Date of birth
- If possible, your NHS ID# (the 7-digit number generally found above your name and address on our mailings)
Q: Will I be able to see the results of this research?
A: Yes. The major results of this research, when published, will be included in the annual newsletter sent to all members of the Nurses' Health Study and Nurses' Health Study II. Each individual publication which result from CHEARS analyses will also be added to this website, under the Publications tab.
Q: What if I have a question not answered here?
A: If you are a study participant, or just an interested member of the public, and have a question about any of the Nurses' Health Study cohorts that we have not answered here, please send us an e-mail. The CHEARS e-mail address is: [email protected].