introductory letter

INSERT FIELD CENTER INFORMATION

INSERT FIELD CENTER INFORMATION

INSERT DATE

Dear Community Member,

Please let us introduce ourselves. We are health scientists from INSERT NAME OF FIELD CENTER. For years, we have been working to prevent heart disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases that affect many Hispanics/Latinos. As part of these efforts we are working with a team of researchers from Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Diego who are conducting a research project called the Hispanic Community Health Study/ Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) which is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. This study is the largest and most comprehensive study of Hispanic/Latino health in the U.S. to date. The goal of this study is to learn more about factors that protect or put Hispanics/Latinos at risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and asthma in our community, so that we can prevent these diseases in the future.

We are writing to you because your household was selected at random to be invited to participate in this landmark study of Hispanic/Latino health. If you are found eligible to participate, you can receive free health care tests. The tests will be provided to you and/or to your doctor—your choice—at no cost.

If you or any member of your household is eligible and willing to participate, they will attend a 6.5 hour examination at a participating health clinic located at CLINIC LOCATION AND ADDRESS. At the clinic, they will receive a number of medical tests including an electrocardiogram (ECG), assessment of lung function and breathing, a hearing test, a dental examination, and many other tests including blood cholesterol and blood sugar. There will also be interviews to learn about personal and family medical history, physical activity and nutritional practices, dietary assessment, mental health, and employment.

Enclosed is a brochure that describes our study more fully and outlines the medical procedures and laboratory tests eligible persons will be asked to complete.

All our health interviewers are fluent in Spanish and English and all parts of the study can be conducted in Spanish or English. Transportation to the clinic or parking will be provided if needed

Because results of the study are to fill important gaps in knowledge about the health of our community, we urge you and other household members to participate. Our bilingual recruiters will be attempting to contact your household with a visit to your home or by telephone in the next few weeks. Please, welcome them when they contact you and give us every possible consideration when they ask you to participate in this scientific study that may benefit our community for many years to come. We also encourage you to call our bilingual recruitment staff at 1-800-999-9999 to answer any questions you may have or mail the enclosed response card and we will be in touch with you soon. We are interested in recruiting everyone who is eligible; even if you are healthy we want to know what you are doing to stay healthy. This is your chance to make a difference.

Thank you for your consideration,

FIELD CENTER PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

To learn more about HCHS/SOL call 1-800-999-9999 or visit http://www.cscc.unc.edu/hchs/