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American Heart Month brings awareness to heart disease and serves as a reminder of the importance of a healthy heart.

We all feel the hard work it does when we engage in physical exercise. And, behind the scenes, it's doing all sorts of work to help our body function.

Our heart pumps blood throughout our body and helps to control our heart rate and maintain our blood pressure. 

It’s a vital part of our body’s functions. In saying that, heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in Americans. 

Did you know 1 in 4 deaths every year in the United States is linked to heart disease? 

The most common amongst them is coronary heart disease. In 2018 it was the cause of 42.1% of deaths related to heart disease in the US. 

While you may be aware of the importance of your heart and how it contributes to your body, you may not be aware of the different forms of heart disease, who is most at risk, and how we can build a healthier heart. 

We’ll be answering all these questions! Keep reading to learn more.

Types of Heart Disease

Heart disease is any condition that affects the function or structure of our heart. There are several different forms of heart disease that can develop for various reasons.

Some of them include:

Heart failure - this happens when the heart muscle can't pump blood as efficiently

Structural heart disease - abnormalities in the structure of the heart that can be present at birth or develop later in life

Coronary artery disease - caused by the build-up of plaque that narrows or blocks blood flow through the arteries 

Heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias) - there are different types of heart rhythm disorders. But, they all cause irregular heartbeats

These are just a few forms of heart disease - there are many others. You can see a more extensive list provided by Mayo Clinic here.

Who is most at risk?

There are many factors that can affect your risk for heart disease including:

• Age
• Lifestyle
• Family history
• Health conditions

Some of these factors we have no control over - such as age and family history. 

And, our health conditions can vary. Some are controllable and others aren't. 

Here are some common health conditions that can increase our risk of heart disease: 

Unhealthy blood cholesterol levels - our liver produces enough cholesterol for what our body needs, but we also get cholesterol from the foods that we eat. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol - also known as “bad” cholesterol can cause plaque buildup in our arteries.  

Obesity - higher “bad” (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower “good” (HDL) cholesterol levels are both linked to excess body fat. Obesity can result in diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

High blood pressure - this happens when the pressure of your blood in your blood vessels and arteries is higher than normal. 

Diabetes - when you have diabetes, your body can't make enough insulin or it can’t use the insulin you already have effectively - sometimes it can’t do either well. Insulin helps move sugar (glucose) from the food you eat to your body's cells. When you have diabetes, it can cause sugar to build up in the blood - creating a higher risk for heart disease.

Our lifestyle also contributes to our risk level for heart disease. 

Tobacco, alcohol, stress levels, physical inactivity, and our diet can all affect our risk. 

But, our lifestyle choices are something we do have control over. You might not be able to reverse your aging, change your family tree, or even cure a certain health condition. 

But most of us are capable of exercising a little more and changing up our diet. 

Tips For A Healthy Heart

Just as you can go to the gym and eat nutritiously to grow your muscles and be healthier, there are also things you can do to help make your heart healthy and strong.

Many of these tips will improve your overall health, but they can also have an impact on your cholesterol, blood pressure, and body weight. In return, creating a healthier heart.

Diet - a healthy diet is crucial in developing a healthier heart. Do your best to stay away from fast foods, trans fat, refined carbohydrates, sugary drinks, and beverages. And, try to stick to a diet that includes lots of fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, poultry, and fish.

Physical exercise - getting any form of physical exercise will do lots of good for your heart. It reduces stress, inflammation, and blood pressure. It also helps strengthen muscles which improves their ability to draw oxygen from your blood. Exercise is also a key component in maintaining a healthy body weight.

Manage stress - stress can contribute to high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. You can manage stress through exercise, breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, or even journaling. The important thing is to find something you enjoy and stick to it.

Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke - smoking damages your heart and your blood vessels. Quitting can reduce your risk for heart disease even in as little as a year.

Drink alcohol in moderation - Heavy drinking causes conditions that can lead to heart disease such as stroke, heart failure, and higher blood pressure.

Closing Thoughts - American Heart Month

It’s evident that heart disease is a serious problem affecting many Americans. 

Some people are more at risk than others, and there are factors that affect our heart health that we have little to no control over.

But, we do have control over a few things.

American Heart Month is about bringing awareness to the seriousness of heart disease. And, bringing the focus to things that we can control such as our lifestyle and choices. 

So, why not start today? Start going for those daily walks or visits to the gym. Or you could even start meditating and eating a cleaner diet.

It’s all up to you!

Make sure you talk to your doctor if you’re concerned about your heart health or any of the factors that can affect it. 

And, make sure to spread awareness and educate your loved ones and friends! Bring it up in conversation or you can even share this article.

Heart Health on Evidation

Interested in learning more about your heart health? Or keeping track of symptoms related to heart health? 

Heart Health on Evidation is open to heart aware individuals who may be at risk for more serious conditions. 

If you’re an eligible Evidation Member, you may have seen the offer already. If not, and you think you may be eligible, be sure to complete your health survey and contact us if you have any questions.

If you’re not an Evidation Member, sign up today!

In an earlier article called “What is Health Research?”, we shared some brief general information about what health research is and what it looks like. Now, let’s cover the types of research studies that Evidation Studies (formerly Achievement Studies) focuses on.

What types of Studies can people participate in? 

There are several ways you can participate in research with Evidation Studies, including:

Single Surveys 

Yes! It is as simple as it sounds. We often ask our participants to answer just a single survey. In addition, we might ask you to share your recent activity data (from your activity tracker - like a Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch, etc). This information already exists in your activity tracker, so it’s quick and easy to share, if you choose to do so. Remember - your activity data belongs to you! We do not use it for research purposes unless you say we can!

Observational Studies

We do many observational studies, and they can range in effort and length from one week all the way to several years long. We often ask you to answer surveys about your health and health experience at regular times (such as once per day or once per month). We may also ask you to share your activity tracker data with us, or complete a lab test in the comfort of your own home (like a quick and easy swab of your nose or cheek).

Below, you can learn more about some of the highlights of our research!

We live and breathe ‘Decentralized’ research

The majority of our research is decentralized, which means people can participate in studies from where they are, locally. People who typically would not be able to participate in health research at big hospitals and universities can have the chance to join an online study from the comfort of their home. 

This allows Evidation Studies to invite a diverse group of people to participate, regardless of their geographic location. 

We do, occasionally, ask participants to travel to a local laboratory or care provider - but this is clearly explained before anyone chooses to participate. We make sure that any requests like these are as quick and easy to complete as possible.

What does ‘PGHD’ or ‘Person-Generated Health Data’ have to do with it? 

Evidation Studies uses what is called ‘Person-Generated Health Data’ (PGHD). PGHD is information from a person, like responses from surveys, activity and sleep data from wearables, and more! 

PGHD can:

• help researchers better understand health on an individual level. 
• contain clues to help find patterns within groups of people that live with a similar disease. 
• capture information beyond what we remember to tell our healthcare providers at our regular visits. 
• help researchers explain “How does this disease impact your everyday life?” and “How can we detect and treat this illness more effectively?” 

We look at all sorts of PGHD to understand what a person’s health experience is like outside the doctor’s office. This includes expertise in looking at data from common wearables like a watch or activity tracker or from more unique sources like air quality sensors.

We are proud of the research we conduct and look forward to the incredible ways our work contributes to health science going forward. 

Want to know more about any of our Evidation Studies and how to get involved? Reach out to us at study@evidation.com and one of our friendly team members can help you get started. 

If you want additional general information on health research, we recommend checking out the following public resources: 

• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office for Human Research Protections
• FDA, Clinical Trials and Human Subject Protection
• National Institutes of Health (NIH), Educational Resources
• Clinical Research Resource HUB, Resources for Participants

We’re midway through flu season, and our Flu Monitoring on Evidation Community is growing! In our first month, we were 100,000 strong, and now, more than 160,000 people from all 50 states have come together in the spirit of healthier living.

The 2021-2022 Flu Season

Even in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t lose focus on the flu. This year, we saw an uptick in flu-like illness after the holidays. This is shown by the increase of red on the map to the right.

Compared to this week last year, our country’s rates of flu-like illness are up drastically. This is shown in the abundance of green states in the map on the left, and the increase in yellow, orange and red states in the map on the right. Not seeking treatment can lead to increased spread in our families, social circles, and communities.

‍Slowing the spread 

These trends are worthy of our attention, and the Flu Monitoring on Evidation community is taking them seriously - especially by continuing to contribute activity data and reporting flu-like symptoms. 

Since our last community update in early December 2021, more than 37,000 community members have reported flu-like symptoms. Among them, Evidation identified nearly 13,200 cases of flu-like symptoms - up from 1600 in November. 

This early identification is possible because of you - our dedicated community. When you share your activity data and report symptoms, we can support you with insights that can prompt you to check in with your health and, help you make informed health decisions.

Here’s how it works

We look for changes in your activity data and alert you when we see a change that might mean you’re feeling under the weather. We’re interested in the relationship between changes in activity patterns and flu-like symptoms. 

Here’s what to look for in your Evidation app:

Remember, you can let us know at any time if you’re experiencing flu symptoms by selecting “yes” on the symptom and exposure offers above. Identifying early signs of flu across the country can help us slow the spread of illness. 

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Protect yourself and others 

We’re halfway there! We can all work together to stay safe and healthy for the rest of the flu season, but it’s important to know our most effective tools for prevention.  Recently, we quizzed our members on their Flu IQ, and for the most part, people know their stuff! 

However, we think it’s important to underscore the best thing you can do to protect yourself from the flu: Vaccinate!

CDC recommends the flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu. And of course, preventive actions like covering your cough and washing your hands often can help stop the spread of germs.

While it’s advised to get a flu shot earlier in the season, it’s still not too late! Join the 162 million people getting this year’s quadrivalent flu vaccine, which protects against the four most common flu viruses. And an added bonus - you can get it at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine or booster.

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January is Thyroid Awareness Month.

Like other awareness months, the goal of thyroid awareness month is to bring attention to the importance of thyroid health, encourage early diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease, and to help raise awareness for those living with thyroid conditions. 

And while most of us have some knowledge of what the thyroid gland is, many are unaware of just how big a role it plays in all our bodies’ systems.

What is the thyroid?

The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the middle of your neck above the collarbone and in front of your windpipe. 

Part of the endocrine system, this tiny hormone-producing gland regulates so many important functions. Metabolism, heart rate, breathing, body temperature, muscle strength, body weight, and cholesterol levels are all regulated by the thyroid. 

In fact, according to the American Thyroid Association, 

“Although the thyroid gland is relatively small, it produces a hormone that influences every cell, tissue and organ in the body.”

So it’s important to keep it functioning healthy. Luckily, there are many options for those living with thyroid conditions.

Types of thyroid disease

Thyroid disease refers to any condition that affects how the thyroid functions. There are several types of thyroid disease including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid cancers, and autoimmune thyroid conditions. 

Hypothyroidism

Most common in women over 60, hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Common symptoms include weight gain, fatigue, constipation, hair loss, sensitivity to cold, and dry skin. 

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism, or overactive thyroid, occurs when the thyroid produces too much thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Common symptoms include weight loss, irregular heartbeat, muscle weakness, sensitivity to heat, and anxiety.

Autoimmune Thyroid Disorders

Autoimmune thyroid disorders are organ-specific autoimmune disorders that primarily affect the thyroid. They include Grave’s disease, Hashimoto’s disease, postpartum thyroiditis, and atrophic autoimmune hypothyroidism. 

Grave’s disease - also called diffuse toxic goiter, results in an uncontrolled production of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) resulting in hyperthyroidism. 

Hashimoto’s disease - also called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis) is characterized by a loss of thyroid cells which eventually leads to hypothyroidism. 

Postpartum thyroiditis - is a temporary condition that can occur shortly after a woman has given birth. It usually starts off with an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) followed by an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). 

Atrophic autoimmune hypothyroidism - is a very rare form of hypothyroidism in which a certain type of antibody is present.

Thyroid Cancer

There are four types of thyroid cancer

• Papillary thyroid cancer
• Follicular thyroid cancer
• Medullary thyroid cancer
• Anaplastic thyroid cancer
  
  

Treatment options depend on the type of thyroid cancer.

For more information on thyroid cancer, check out the following resources.

American Cancer Society

American Thyroid Association

Mayo Clinic

What causes thyroid disease?

There’s still a lot that is unknown about the causes of thyroid disorders, but we do know that they tend to affect women more than men. 

In fact, women are five to eight times more likely to develop thyroid disease than men.

Some lifestyle factors or other medical conditions can increase your chance of developing a thyroid condition. For example, those with an autoimmune condition are more likely to develop another, including an autoimmune thyroid condition. 

Genetics play a role as well. 

According to the Cleveland Clinic:

“You may be at a higher risk of developing a thyroid disease if you:

• Have a family history of thyroid disease
• Have a medical condition (these can include pernicious anemia, type 1 diabetes, primary adrenal insufficiency, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome and Turner syndrome)
• Take a medication that’s high in iodine (amiodarone)
• Are older than 60, especially in women
• Have had treatment for a past thyroid condition or cancer (thyroidectomy or radiation)”

Diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease

Diagnosing a thyroid disorder can be tricky because symptoms are often confused with other conditions. That’s why it’s important to see your provider regularly and follow their advice for routine exams, blood work, and imaging. 

You should also talk to your provider about any symptoms that concern you.

Luckily there are common tests that can be used to determine if your symptoms are caused by a thyroid disorder. They include:

• Physical examination
• Blood tests
• Imaging tests (like ultrasound)

Thyroid awareness

According to the American Thyroid Association, around 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, and 60 percent of those living with a thyroid condition are unaware of it. 

And since undiagnosed thyroid disease can put you at risk of serious medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and infertility, raising awareness is critical.

So talk to your doctor about thyroid health, check your thyroid at home, and share this information with others. You can share this article, post to your social media channels, or talk to your friends and family about thyroid health.

A Collaboration around Community-based health engagement: We’re joining forces with Project TECH to advance better health outcomes

One of our core values is to put individuals first--our collaboration this year with Project TECH embodies this commitment and represents an exciting step towards working directly with community leaders to encourage everyone to participate in better health outcomes.

Based in Columbia, South Carolina, with extended roots in Atlanta and Charlotte, Project TECH is an organization grounded in four community pillars: 

Technology 

Education 

Communication 

Health 

We’ve been fortunate to connect with the leaders of this organization and identify the common values that motivate our teams to do what we do. 

From our first conversation with Project TECH, it was clear that we have the opportunity to develop a new kind of collaboration model that emphasizes both group’s strengths. Evidation offers the technology and tools for better health engagement, and Project TECH helps bring the voices and experiences of their community. 

Together, we can continually improve and refine how we help individuals measure and improve their health in everyday life. 

With this ongoing collaboration, we hope to learn from and co-develop digital experiences that individuals will find helpful for improving their quality of life and meeting their health goals. Things like making healthy heart decisions and protecting each other from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To accomplish our goals, Evidation and Project TECH will host design workshops with community members. These will be collaborative spaces focused on eliminating barriers around digital health engagement and research programs, so we can work collectively to improve our offerings.

This cycle of listening and responding is at the core of our mission to put individuals first and help people take control of their own health goals. Stay tuned as we embark on this journey of co-learning.

Winter can be an especially trying time for people. The days are darker, the weather is colder, and as the holidays transition into tax season, money stressors can creep in. While money isn’t everything, it can certainly impact our mental health and well being. 

We asked our members about their relationship with financial stress and mental wellness, and an astounding 123,800 answered us in just a month’s time.

Grounded in principles of the social determinants of health, our findings demonstrate the role our financial wellness has played in our wellbeing all along: When financial stress is high, mental health wellness can be low. 

Our findings also highlight how the structural barriers that create income inequities are the same ones that make mental and physical well being harder to reach for people with lower incomes. 

While not all of these systems can change overnight, it’s important to understand what is within our control to support ourselves through financial stress.

Here’s what we heard from our members

Anxiety and stress: All respondents reported feeling some level of anxiety and stress about their personal finances, but these feelings were experienced more severely in groups living with lower incomes (below $35,000 per year).

Basic needs: The ability to meet basic needs was directly correlated with income. People living with lower incomes were less likely to be able to meet their needs, and more than 60% of respondents said their access to medical care had been limited in the last year.

Mental vs. physical health: Compared to areas like physical health, participants reported lower feelings of wellness in their relationships and in their mental health. This was felt particularly strongly among those living with lower incomes.

How people’s lives were most impacted by anxiety and depression: Tiredness and trouble sleeping were more commonly reported than any other symptoms of depression. Anxiety manifested most as restlessness, feeling afraid, and uncontrollable worry.

What we can do in the face of inequities

Shedding light on where inequities lie can help us be mindful of where our greatest needs are as a community and foster greater support.

We know that many of these inequities are centuries in the making, and while these systems might be outside of our personal control, there are things we can do to foster our own financial wellness and nurture our mental health along the way. 

As we begin the new year, there are things we can do to care for our mental health and financial wellness to set us up for a healthier and happier 2022.

Support is available.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-HELP) is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for people facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

The CDC offers free and confidential resources to help people connect with a skilled, trained mental health professional.

Monitor your health behaviors and earn cash

Using the Evidation app can help you engage and monitor your health in a new way. Because we believe that you should be paid for data that you share, our app supports the mindful monitoring of health experiences and activities, with the added bonus of financial reward. 

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What is health research?

Research begins with a question and is the process of answering those questions. In health research specifically, studies are created to answer questions that increase our understanding of people’s health and ways to improve health. For example, we might want to learn more about people's health-related experiences, dig deeper into why people have specific health habits, or determine whether a new medication or medical product can treat a health condition.  

What a study looks like depends on the types of question researchers want to answer. Different types of research can be used to answer different questions. 

Who manages health research studies? 

Many people are involved in making a research study happen because there is a lot that goes into  a successful study. For example, someone needs to decide:

• Who should be in the study
• How those people can learn about, sign up for, and get paid for the study
• What the study steps should look like
• What data should be collected
• How the data should be analyzed

Study teams can range from a small group of people working together to much larger groups where everyone has a very specific job. In general, the people in charge of leading health research studies are the study sponsor and a principal investigator (PI). They are supported by a variety of research staff.  

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When and Where do health research studies happen?

Health research takes place all year round, at many different places. The right place for a study often depends on the questions it wants to answer.  For example, some studies take place in person, at locations called “research sites”. Research sites can be a part of a hospital, private medical practice, or a university. Study volunteers go to research sites when the study involves in-person activities, like face-to-face interviews, lab tests or other clinical procedures, or the use of devices people do not have at home. 

Other studies are conducted completely virtually, often via smartphones or computers. These studies are sometimes called “decentralized” studies because participants do not have to go to a central study location or medical office and can participate remotely, from where they are. 

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What do health research studies look like?

Different types of research can be used to answer different questions. The diagram below explains some of the different kinds of research. We'll talk more about the specific types of studies we do at Evidation (formerly Achievement) Studies in a future Research 101 post.

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Who participates in health research studies?

The most important part of health research is the study participants. Study participants are volunteers who consent (in other words, give their permission) to be in a study. They provide data through surveys, labs, assessments, and other study activities, which help researchers answer their research questions. 

Study participants are crucial to the success of a study and the future of healthcare and medicine. Without study volunteers, there is no study. And with no studies, there are no improvements to healthcare.

Where can I learn more about how to participate?

The Evidation app is great for managing your health and for offering you opportunities to participate in research.

Clinicaltrials.gov is a registry of clinical trials that provides the public with information on past and current trials.

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about health research and how it can make a difference for you and the world around you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at study@evidation.com.

We want to thank you for being a part of Heart Health on Evidation and share with you what members are saying about their experience.

We recently asked a series of questions about the benefits of the Personalized Heart Health Report and how you and other participants are using it. We’re excited to share what we learned. 

What is the Personalized Heart Health Report?

The Personalized Report is a record of your weekly diary entries. The diary asks you how you’re feeling, what your current weight is, and about any new or worsening symptoms related to heart health.

We ask these questions because, according to the American College of Cardiology, tracking these things is important for you and your care team to know how well your heart health is being managed. 

And because it tracks these things over time, the report helps you and your care team see just how you’re feeling from week to week, month to month, and so on. 

How are Heart Health on Evidation Members using the Personalized Reports?

We asked several questions about how you and other members of Heart Health on Evidation are using the Personalized Report. Here’s what members who downloaded their report had to say.

• Most enjoyed being able to track their steps, symptoms, weight, and mood over time.
• Many printed the report and took it to their next appointment. But did you know you can email it directly to your care team or save it to your phone or mobile device? 
• Some said they had trouble remembering to download the report, so we’ve added reminders to help! 

What do Heart Health on Evidation Members Have to Say about Their Reports?

“It reminds me to put me first.”

“It helps me be accountable and aware of my symptoms.”

“It reminds me that my heart health is important, and to keep trying to eat healthy and exercise even though sometimes I don’t want to. I get depressed and feel as if it doesn’t matter, but then I read something uplifting on Heart Health and try a little harder.”

“The report keeps information that could be important for you and your doctor in keeping your heart in the best shape it can be.”

How to download your Personalized Report

Once you’ve completed at least 3 diary entries, your report will be ready to download. It updates weekly, so be sure to check it regularly. 

You can access the report through the heart health section of your Evidation app (or on the site).

Step 1: First, you’ll want to click on the “heart icon” at the bottom of your app or in the menu bar if you’re online. 

Step 2: Scroll down the page until you see “Get Your Personalized Report.” 

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Step 3: Click on the “get report” button. 

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 ***If you haven’t completed at least 3 diary entries this button will be grayed out and unable to click. But don’t worry, once you complete 3 entries, you’ll be able to access it!

Step 4: After you press confirm, you’ll receive an email to download the report. You can save it to your device or print it!

Example Personalized Report

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Doctors and scientists use a lot of language that can be hard for the average person to understand. This "jargon" helps them communicate effectively with one another, but it can make learning about research difficult.

When we talk about health research, we sometimes need to use these terms to be as specific and transparent as possible.

So, to help, we've put together this list of common research terms and their definitions.

Common Health Research Terms

You can refer back to this page anytime you need to, and we'll update it to reflect new topics we post about.

Aggregate data

Data from a group of individuals that is combined into a summary format, for example, in tables or graphs. When data is aggregated (combined), individuals cannot be identified by their data. 

Clinical Research

Clinical research is a type of health science which aims to produce knowledge that is valuable for understanding human disease, preventing and treating illness, and promoting health.  

Coded study data

Data from a study which does not contain personally identifiable information (PII), for example, name, address, date of birth, social security number, etc. The PII is replaced by a code (usually a string of random letters and numbers) so no one can know who the participant is just from looking at the dataset. The participant’s corresponding personal information is kept separate to protect their identity as much as possible.

Cohort

A group of individuals who share a common characteristic or group of characteristics who are observed in a study. For example, the feature they may have in common could be a health diagnosis or a treatment assignment.

Sometimes, this term can also be used to refer to a group that a study participant is assigned to, such as a “study branch”, "study group", or “study arm”. 

Examples:

• In a study on diabetes, researchers may observe a set of traits patients diagnosed with diabetes who are on insulin (cohort 1) and who are not on insulin (cohort 2)
• In a study on how social media affects people of different ages, researchers might  observe symptoms in people age 10-15 (cohort 1), 16-20 (cohort 2), and 21-25 (cohort 3)
  

Confidentiality

Confidentiality refers to how an individual’s personal data is protected by people or groups granted permission to process it. It refers to how a person’s information is treated once it has been shared. Maintaining confidentiality is an important way to protect privacy and build trust.

Control group

The control group in a randomized controlled trial does not receive an “experimental treatment”, or the treatment that is being tested. Instead, they may receive no treatment, or another treatment that gets compared to the treatment being tested. The purpose of the control group is to compare research results between the group that receives the treatment and the group that doesn’t. 

For example, in a study that wants to learn whether a pain medication is helpful, one group would get the pain medication and the other group wouldn’t. The group that does not receive the pain medication is known as the control group. The data from these two groups could then be compared to learn more about whether the pain medication (the treatment or drug) is helpful.

De-identification

A process used to remove any personally identifying information (or PII) from data collected during a study. This is used to protect the identity of participants in a research study.

De-identified data

Data that is not linked to any personally identifying information (or PII), which means that it cannot be linked back to a specific person. 

Decentralized trial

A research trial that is not conducted at a physical location or “site” (also referred to sometimes as a “siteless” trial). Instead of having participants come to a location to complete study activities, they are able to participate from where they are (i.e. online, using home care, telemedicine visits, etc.)

Eligibility criteria

Criteria for who can or cannot participate in a research study, as defined by the researchers. These criteria must be met by all participants. Eligibility criteria are put in place to make sure that the researchers are able to get meaningful data to answer the study’s research questions, and/or protect people who may experience negative effects from a study. Eligibility criteria are different for any study.

For example, a study researching a birth control pill in females may exclude males. That same study may exclude females with heart conditions for their safety, if the birth control being tested is known to cause heart problems.

Eligibility screening

Questions or activities used to determine (or “screen”) if a person is eligible to participate in a study. This often occurs in the form of a survey, but could include other activities such as interviews or medical assessments.

Enrollment

The process of entering into a research study or trial. This can include a variety of steps, including agreeing to participate in a study by signing the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

Any criteria that would make a person ineligible to participate in a study. Exclusion criteria are created by the researchers to make sure the study results are meaningful and to protect potential participants from study activities that could be harmful to them. 

For example, a study may exclude participants who take a blood pressure medication, if there is reason to believe that people taking that type of medication could be harmed by the study. 

Good Clinical Practice

Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is an international guide for how to conduct ethical and good quality research. GCP applies to every aspect of a study, from start to finish. The purpose of this guide is to protect the rights and safety of study participants, as well as ensure the integrity and quality of study data.

Health research

Research that aims to learn about human health. This type of research can help us learn about, prevent, and treat health conditions. Also sometimes referred to as clinical research. 

HIPAA

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. It is a U.S. federal law that created guidelines to protect patients' PHI (personal health information). For more details on how HIPAA applies to research, click here. 

Inclusion criteria

Criteria that a person must meet to be eligible to participate in a study. 

For example, a study that is researching a blood pressure medication may require individuals to have high blood pressure. 

Informed consent

A process by which a person voluntarily confirms that they are willing to participate in a particular study. During this process, the person is given detailed information about the study so that they can make an informed decision about whether they want to participate. If a person decides to participate in a study, their consent is documented on an Informed Consent Form.

Informed Consent Form (ICF)

A form used to explain and document a person’s willingness to participate in a specific study. The form provides any important information a person needs to be able to decide whether participating in the study is right for them. For example, the form will include information on the purpose of the study, who is conducting the study, and any risks.

Interventional Research

Studies which are designed to understand the effects of treatment or preventive measures on a condition. This can also be described as “experimental research.” 

For example, a researcher may want to understand if an anxiety medication can also be used to treat chronic pain. In such a study, the researcher may give the anxiety medication to individuals with chronic pain, to see if the medication affects them. 

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

A group which independently reviews any research involving people. This group is made up of at least five members with different scientific and non-scientific backgrounds (for example, researchers, doctors, nurses, scientists, psychologists, patients, etc.)  The role of the IRB is to ensure that participants' rights and welfare are protected and that studies are carried out in an ethical manner.

Observational Research

Studies which are designed to observe what happens to a group of participants. Unlike interventional research, observational research does not try to introduce a treatment or product, but instead observes how participants behave naturally.

For example, a researcher may want to observe how depression affects the average number of steps a person walks per day. 

Participant

A person who enrolls (or takes part) in a research study after signing an informed consent form and completing any other study-required enrollment activities.

Person-Generated Health Data

Health-related data that is created, recorded, or gathered by individuals (or by family members or caregivers). Sources of PGHD include wearable devices or phones, electronic surveys, apps, or any other interactions with technology that generate personal data about health. 

Personally identifiable information (PII)

Personally identifiable information (PII) is any form of sensitive data that can be used to identify a person (for example, name or social security number). A study that collects PII is required to protect that data.

Privacy

Privacy refers to a person’s right to limit access or processing of their personal information by other people or groups. This can include controlling what, how much, and when personal information is shared with others

Principal Investigator

The person(s) who leads and takes overall responsibility for a research study. Typically, this is a medical doctor or someone with a doctorate degree in a health field. The Principal Investigator (PI) makes sure that the research follows good scientific and ethical practices and that it can answer the research questions being asked (often, being asked by a study sponsor). The PI also oversees the research support staff.

Protected Health Information (PHI)

Protected Health Information (PHI) refers to personal health-related information that is shared between individuals or organizations who provide treatment, payment, and operations in healthcare. For example, this can include Medical Record Numbers, hospital bills, lab reports, etc. 

It’s important to note that PHI is different from PII. PII is an umbrella term for any information that can be traced to an individual’s identity, while PHI refers specifically to identifiable health information possessed by HIPAA covered entities. 

Protected group

Groups of people who are provided additional protections in health research based on federal regulations. In some cases, individuals in these groups may not be able to legally consent to participating in research by themselves and may require consent to be given by a caregiver or legally authorized representative. 

Examples of protected groups include children, pregnant women, and prisoners. 

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)

A study in which researchers randomly assign participants to different groups (also called arms or cohorts). The goal is to minimize bias and then compare the study results between the groups.

For example, a study may randomly assign participants to take either a new medication or a sugar tablet every day. The researchers will then use the data from participants to learn if the medication made a difference for the group that received it.

Real-world evidence

Clinical evidence that is generated from real-world data about the use, risks, and/or benefits of a medication, product, or treatment. 

Real-world data

Data about the use, risks, and/or benefits of a medication, product, or treatment that come from a variety of sources. For example, real-world data can come from clinical sources like electronic health records, claims and billing activities, product and disease registries. Or it can come from everyday sources like health apps and fitness trackers. 

Research

The process of using scientific methods to collect, analyze, and interpret data collected from studies to contribute to knowledge about a topic. 

Research site

A location where research is conducted. This can include hospitals, universities, private medical practices, research institutes, and more. 

Sponsor

A sponsor may be an individual or pharmaceutical company, governmental agency, academic institution, private organization, or other group that initiates, oversees, and/or is financially responsible for the research. 

For example, a pharmaceutical company may initiate research to learn if the drug they make works, and pay another independent organization to actually conduct the study. 

Study

Where research methods are used to collect, analyze, and interpret data collected from participants to contribute to knowledge about a topic. 

Study data

Information collected during a research study. It can include demographic information (race, age, education level), health information, descriptions of the participant’s progress, and other relevant information.

Withdrawal

The process of exiting a research study or trial. All research studies are voluntary, which means that participants are free to stop participating at any time for any reason.