[Arizona-students] Health and Sleep Study Needs You!

[Arielle Silverman]

Here is some information about a nationwide survey that the NFB supports.
Debi
BE PART OF SOMETHING BIG!
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
hope to survey 12,000 blind and visually impaired women in order to
identify risk factors associated with certain health disorders, such as
breast cancer and sleep problems. The results of the survey will help both
blind and sighted women make more informed lifestyle choices.  A summary
of the results will be sent to all participants annually.  The survey is
open to all women aged 18 or over who are legally blind.  You can register
for and complete the survey in the convenience of your own home using our
rigorously tested Section 508 compliant website at
www.bvihealthsurvey.bwh.harvard.edu.

The website also includes a tutorial
on completing forms, written by expert screen reader users.
The survey may also be completed in Braille, by audio tape, in large print
or over the phone.  If you would like more information or if you have
questions please e-mail Erin at
bvihealthsurvey at rics.bwh.harvard.edu
or
call 1-888-828-4294 (1-888-8BVIBWH).
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE
Division of Sleep Medicine
The National Federation of the Blind and the NFB National Convention have
teamed up with researchers at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard
Medical School, Boston, to launch a nationwide survey entitled, "Health
and Sleep in the Visually Impaired." The project is headed by Dr. Steven
W. Lockley, Ph.D.
The purpose of the study is to survey the health of blind women, with
particular focus on breast cancer risk. Previous studies in Europe have
suggested that breast cancer risk may be lower in visually impaired women
than in the sighted population, and lowest in women who are totally blind.
The aim of the current research is to find out whether this is the case in
the USA and, if breast cancer risk is lower in visually impaired women, to
discover the reasons why. Possible factors include changes in hormone
levels, sleep and circadian rhythm disorders, reproductive history, and
other factors such as smoking, exercise or alcohol use. If we can
understand why visually impaired women are at a reduced risk, we hope that
this information will be used to help both sighted and blind women make
more informed lifestyle choices that may reduce their risk of developing
cancer. We will keep participants updated on progress with a yearly
newsletter summarizing our findings.
Any adult female who is legally blind can volunteer to take part,
regardless of their health. The study is in two parts and volunteers can
choose to complete either Part 1 alone or both Parts 1 and 2. Part 1 is a
survey that asks detailed questions about you and your health. Part 2 is a
home-based study where we will ask you to complete a daily sleep and nap
diary for up to 8 weeks and collect urine samples for at least two 24-48
hour periods while living at home.  The samples will be measured for
hormones to assess the timing of your 24-hour body clock and reproductive
function. The survey and any instructions will be provided in the format
of your choice including large print, Braille, audiotape, computer disc or
CD, e-mail, or verbally. The survey can also be completed on the internet.
The equipment used to collect the urine samples will be provided and has
been specifically adapted for visually impaired people.
If you are attending the NFB National Convention and wish to volunteer for
the study, you will be able to complete the survey there and also arrange
to provide some of the urine samples at the convention. The researchers
will be there to complete the surveys, provide instructions and arrange
sample collection.  You will be asked to complete the sleep diaries in the
weeks leading up to and following the convention.
If you are interested in volunteering for the study, or want more
information about the study, please call the toll-free number
1-888-8-BVI-BWH (1-888-8-284-294), go to
www.BVIhealthsurvey.bwh.harvard.edu,

e-mail
BVIhealthsurvey at rics.bwh.harvard.edu
or write to Erin Evans, Division of
Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston,
MA 02115, with your contact telephone number, address or e-mail address.
-------------- next part --------------
Here is some information about a nationwide survey that the NFB supports.
Debi
BE PART OF SOMETHING BIG!
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
hope to survey 12,000 blind and visually impaired women in order to
identify risk factors associated with certain health disorders, such as
breast cancer and sleep problems. The results of the survey will help both
blind and sighted women make more informed lifestyle choices.  A summary
of the results will be sent to all participants annually.  The survey is
open to all women aged 18 or over who are legally blind.  You can register
for and complete the survey in the convenience of your own home using our
rigorously tested Section 508 compliant website at
http://www.bvihealthsurvey.bwh.harvard.edu www.bvihealthsurvey.bwh.harvard.edu
.
 
The website also includes a tutorial
on completing forms, written by expert screen reader users.
The survey may also be completed in Braille, by audio tape, in large print
or over the phone.  If you would like more information or if you have
questions please e-mail Erin at
mailto:bvihealthsurvey at rics.bwh.harvard.edu bvihealthsurvey at rics.bwh.harvard.edu
or
call 1-888-828-4294 (1-888-8BVIBWH).
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
BRIGHAM & WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE
Division of Sleep Medicine
The National Federation of the Blind and the NFB National Convention have
teamed up with researchers at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard
Medical School, Boston, to launch a nationwide survey entitled, "Health
and Sleep in the Visually Impaired." The project is headed by Dr. Steven
W. Lockley, Ph.D.
The purpose of the study is to survey the health of blind women, with
particular focus on breast cancer risk. Previous studies in Europe have
suggested that breast cancer risk may be lower in visually impaired women
than in the sighted population, and lowest in women who are totally blind.
The aim of the current research is to find out whether this is the case in
the USA and, if breast cancer risk is lower in visually impaired women, to
discover the reasons why. Possible factors include changes in hormone
levels, sleep and circadian rhythm disorders, reproductive history, and
other factors such as smoking, exercise or alcohol use. If we can
understand why visually impaired women are at a reduced risk, we hope that
this information will be used to help both sighted and blind women make
more informed lifestyle choices that may reduce their risk of developing
cancer. We will keep participants updated on progress with a yearly
newsletter summarizing our findings.
Any adult female who is legally blind can volunteer to take part,
regardless of their health. The study is in two parts and volunteers can
choose to complete either Part 1 alone or both Parts 1 and 2. Part 1 is a
survey that asks detailed questions about you and your health. Part 2 is a
home-based study where we will ask you to complete a daily sleep and nap
diary for up to 8 weeks and collect urine samples for at least two 24-48
hour periods while living at home.  The samples will be measured for
hormones to assess the timing of your 24-hour body clock and reproductive
function. The survey and any instructions will be provided in the format
of your choice including large print, Braille, audiotape, computer disc or
CD, e-mail, or verbally. The survey can also be completed on the internet.
The equipment used to collect the urine samples will be provided and has
been specifically adapted for visually impaired people.
If you are attending the NFB National Convention and wish to volunteer for
the study, you will be able to complete the survey there and also arrange
to provide some of the urine samples at the convention. The researchers
will be there to complete the surveys, provide instructions and arrange
sample collection.  You will be asked to complete the sleep diaries in the
weeks leading up to and following the convention.
If you are interested in volunteering for the study, or want more
information about the study, please call the toll-free number
1-888-8-BVI-BWH (1-888-8-284-294), go to
http://www.BVIhealthsurvey.bwh.harvard.edu www.BVIhealthsurvey.bwh.harvard.edu
,
 
e-mail
mailto:BVIhealthsurvey at rics.bwh.harvard.edu BVIhealthsurvey at rics.bwh.harvard.edu
or write to Erin Evans, Division of
Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 221 Longwood Avenue, Boston,
MA 02115, with your contact telephone number, address or e-mail address.