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. 2016 Sep;106(9):1573-81.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303338. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Origin, Methods, and Evolution of the Three Nurses' Health Studies

Ying Bao  1 , Monica L Bertoia  1 , Elizabeth B Lenart  1 , Meir J Stampfer  1 , Walter C Willett  1 , Frank E Speizer  1 , Jorge E Chavarro  1
Affiliations

Origin, Methods, and Evolution of the Three Nurses' Health Studies

Ying Bao et al. Am J Public Health. 2016 Sep.

Abstract

We have summarized the evolution of the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), a prospective cohort study of 121 700 married registered nurses launched in 1976; NHS II, which began in 1989 and enrolled 116 430 nurses; and NHS3, which began in 2010 and has ongoing enrollment. Over 40 years, these studies have generated long-term, multidimensional data, including lifestyle- and health-related information across the life course and an extensive repository of various biological specimens. We have described the questionnaire data collection, disease follow-up methods, biorepository resources, and data management and statistical procedures. Through integrative analyses, these studies have sustained a high level of scientific productivity and substantially influenced public health recommendations. We have highlighted recent interdisciplinary research projects and discussed future directions for collaboration and innovation.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Timeline of Data Collection in the Nurses’ Health Studies Note. GUTS = Growing Up Today Study; FFQ = Food Frequency Questionnaire; Qx = questionnaire; SF-36 = Short Form-36.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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