Frequently Asked Questions
- Who will be invited to participate in a KORA study?
- What to expect when being examined at the KORA Study Center?
- Are there any costs associated with the physical examinations at the KORA Study Center?
- Are there any personal benefits of physical examinations at the KORA Study Center?
- How we make sure that data protection principles are complied with?
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Who will be invited to participate in a KORA study?
Only persons who have been personally invited by us can participate in KORA studies.
Usually we ask only persons who had already participated in a MONICA or KORA study, but also residents of the region of Augsburg who had suffered a heart attack are contacted by us personally.
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What to expect when being examined at the KORA Study Center?
For physical examinations we ask people to come to the KORA Study Center. At the beginning we will tell you how the physical examination is carried out and explain all aspects of data protection. Some physical examinations are virtually part of each of our studies as, e.g., measuring weight, height, pulse, and blood pressure. The nurse examiners will ask you about diseases, your way of living, medication intake, and if you agree, we will also take blood samples for laboratory examinations.
Further physical examinations may include:
- ECG (electrocardiogram) for heart diagnostics
- bone ultrasound assessment of the heel to asses the osteoporotic fracture risk
- tests to assess disturbances of balance, gait, and the like
- lung function measurement to measure various aspects of the working capacity and efficiency of the lung and the respiratory tract, e.g. the respiratory volume
- skin examinations
Are there any costs associated with the physical examinations at the KORA Study Center?
All examinations at the KORA Study Center are free of charge for study participants. If need be we also reimburse taxi expenses. At the study center you get free beverages and a snack if you wish.
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Are there any personal benefits of physical examinations at the KORA Study Center?
If you are invited to come to the KORA Study Center you will undergo substantial physical examinations. In return you will get a letter with the diagnostic findings in a clearly understandable wording together with the laboratory results, the ECG evaluation, results from ultrasonic testing, and the like. We always do our best to forward them to you as early as possible, and if there are any findings that should be checked with your GP we will explicitly advise you to do so.
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How we make sure that data protection principles are complied with?
As soon as all examinations will have been completed and the diagnostic findings will have been sent to you your personal data will be transferred to the Helmholtz Zentrum Munich without name or address. Hence, all data will be made anonymous.
If you agree we will save your address at the KORA Study Center if there should be any questions or for follow-up studies.
The proceedings of each single study are supervised by the responsible data protection officer and the Bavarian Chamber of Physicians.
As a matter of principle you have the unlimited and cost-free right of access to all data based on your participation in MONICA-/KORA studies. If you want any information you may contact the KORA Study Center in Augsburg any time.
You can revoke your consent at the KORA Study Center at any time without giving reasons. If you wish so we will destroy all documents or materials that are individual-related or can be related individually.
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