Study Procedure
LSAHA study staff will screen all households within randomly selected areas in Zahle and Beirut and all adults in these households 60 years and over will be invited to participate. The study consists of four components:
Step 1: Face-to-face interview
The first component is a face-to-face interview with you. Trained data collectors will ask you a series of standardized questions about your sociodemographic background, the presence of chronic diseases and related questions about your health, and your social relationships and social support. Other questions ask about your experiences with events during the civil war and other periods of conflict in Lebanon, the care you receive for your health needs, and the care you give to others with health needs. The data collectors will also administer several tests of cognitive ability, such as memory tests and tests of word knowledge to you.
Step 3: Blood Sample
The third component includes a blood draw if you have agreed to donate a blood sample. The data collectors will set up an appointment for a nurse with certified training to come to your house and draw a blood sample which will be used for several tests of your health, such as blood tests of your cardiovascular health, glucose tolerance, and other medical conditions. Blood samples will be analyzed at AUBMC and you will receive the results as soon as they are available, at no cost to you. You can follow up with your physician or a nearby health center with the results of your blood tests if you want. With your permission, a small amount of blood will be frozen for future testing for other medical conditions.
Step 2: Physical measurements
The second component of the interview includes a series of physical measurements. The data collectors will measure your blood pressure, your weight and height, and the strength in your hand. They will also conduct a couple of simple tests of your mobility and balance.
Step 4: Informant interview
The fourth component is an interview with an informant; that is, a person that is selected by you and who knows about your health and everyday functioning. The informant is usually a spouse, a son or daughter, but could also be another family member, or a friend or neighbor. The data collectors will contact the informants by phone and ask them a short series of questions about your health and changes in your health in the recent past.
Step 1: Face-to-face interview
The first component is a face-to-face interview with you. Trained data collectors will ask you a series of standardized questions about your sociodemographic background, the presence of chronic diseases and related questions about your health, and your social relationships and social support. Other questions ask about your experiences with events during the civil war and other periods of conflict in Lebanon, the care you receive for your health needs, and the care you give to others with health needs. The data collectors will also administer several tests of cognitive ability, such as memory tests and tests of word knowledge to you.
Step 2: Physical measurements
The second component of the interview includes a series of physical measurements. The data collectors will measure your blood pressure, your weight and height, and the strength in your hand. They will also conduct a couple of simple tests of your mobility and balance.
Step 3: Blood Sample
The third component includes a blood draw if you have agreed to donate a blood sample. The data collectors will set up an appointment for a nurse with certified training to come to your house and draw a blood sample which will be used for several tests of your health, such as blood tests of your cardiovascular health, glucose tolerance, and other medical conditions. Blood samples will be analyzed at AUBMC and you will receive the results as soon as they are available, at no cost to you. You can follow up with your physician or a nearby health center with the results of your blood tests if you want. With your permission, a small amount of blood will be frozen for future testing for other medical conditions.
Step 4: Informant interview
The fourth component is an interview with an informant; that is, a person that is selected by you and who knows about your health and everyday functioning. The informant is usually a spouse, a son or daughter, but could also be another family member, or a friend or neighbor. The data collectors will contact the informants by phone and ask them a short series of questions about your health and changes in your health in the recent past.