News
Survey update!!
| As of 4/23/2008, |  |
surveys have been returned. |
Program Director, Q&A
The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research recently launched a research project that will examine how genes and the environment influence common diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. The program is now in the process of inviting Kaiser Permanente members to participate in a survey, the first step in building the research program. Kaiser Permanente’s Karl Sonkin recently spoke with Catherine Schaefer, PhD, director of the research program, who reported that the program is moving forward at a rapid pace. So far, more than 285,000 Kaiser Permanente members have responded to the survey.
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Running time: 9:54 minutes |
Herman Bracey Q&A
As a member of the Research Program’s Community Advisory Panel, Herman Bracey of San Francisco has been instrumental in providing insight into some of the concerns that community members have related to the long-term study. A long-time member of Kaiser Permanente, Mr. Bracey recently discussed his involvement with the panel with Karl Sonkin of Kaiser Permanente’s Media Relations department.
Sonkin: First of all Mr. Bracey, let me ask why you felt it was important for you to participate in the Research Program's Community Advisory Panel?
Bracey: I thought it would be very exciting to be in on something like this. It’s kind of revolutionary, particularly since researchers recently finished the genome mapping project and I believe this next phase of research has the potential to lead to some important medical discoveries. I thought it was something very positive to be a part of.
Sonkin: As both a senior citizen and an African American man, you obviously bring some unique perspective to the Community Advisory Panel.
Bracey: Being on this panel has offered me a chance to have some input that could provide safeguards, alleviate some fears, and perhaps establish some legal, ethical and moral boundaries.
I think as a senior, my concerns were mostly related to health premiums and coverage. I wanted to make sure that there wasn’t any risk of anyone losing their health coverage or raising premiums simply because a study participant was found to have something negative about their health. Based on my experience with the panel, though, I know there are safeguards to protect participants against this.
I would like to encourage all the seniors in Kaiser to sign up for this study because it might do some good in the future, if they don’t benefit from it themselves.
Sonkin: Why do you believe Kaiser Permanente is uniquely qualified to carry out this type of research?
Bracey: Well, I know that Kaiser Permanente practices a lot of preventive medicine and that appeals to me. So I see this as really an extension of that. And I understand it’s their size and their medical and lab departments that make them well suited to do this kind of thing. I’m also told that Kaiser’s Northern California membership is very diverse, so that’s also something positive.
Sonkin: You know Mr. Bracey, about 2 million research surveys in bright-green envelopes have been mailed to Northern California members' homes over the last several months. Have you seen the survey and, if so, what are some of the things you find interesting about it?
Bracey: Yes, I’ve actually filled mine out. I was surprised to see from the version I had originally seen in the panel to the finished product. The people did a really good job in designing this survey and incorporating elements that were raised by advisory panel members. I found the survey to be non-threatening – it actually looks good and is friendly, so was quite pleased with it.
Sonkin: So the survey itself was pretty simple and straight forward for you to fill out?
Bracey: Oh yes. The survey was very straight forward, and I didn’t have any problems completing it. It took maybe 10 or 15 minutes to complete.
Sonkin: Why do you feel it's important for Kaiser Permanente members to participate in the survey?
Bracey: Well, I think this is the best method we have of trying to increase medical knowledge. And secondly, I have asthma. So this research might be the beginning of developing some kind of personalized or individual medicine. That’s very good for all of us.
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