Northern Ireland’s largest ever public health research project is seeking the help of the rural community to help policy makers understand our rapidly ageing society.
David Wright from the ‘NICOLA’ project is looking into how Northern Ireland’s rapidly ageing society will affect rural communities. NICOLA, Northern Ireland’s largest ever public research project, will follow the lives of 8,500 over 50s as they grow older.
Known as ‘NICOLA’ – the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing – the Queen’s University backed project is hoping to provide the basis for future Government policy by following the lives of 8,500 over 50s as they grow older.
Over the next year participants from across Northern Ireland will be randomly selected to take part. Given the more rural nature of Northern Ireland the study will represent more farming families and rural communities than other comparable UK projects.
In particular the study will be interested in rural topics such as access to health and social services, working hours, transport, inheritance issues and retirement plans, as well as differences in health between rural and urban communities.
David Wright, from Queen’s University’s Centre for Public Health, said: “Northern Ireland is undergoing an ageing revolution and by 2028 it’s predicted that there will be more over 65s than under 16s for the first time in our history. That is an unprecedented change in our society and we need to start planning for it.
“For the first time, ‘NICOLA’ will give policy makers in Northern Ireland the same level of information as their counterparts in Great Britain and Ireland. As the location and occupation of those taking part will be recorded we will be able to develop a much better picture about how the rapid ‘greying’ of the population is impacting rural communities.
“It’s already known from previous surveys that the health of older agricultural workers is generally poorer compared to other workers and that over 25% of farmers suffer from a longstanding illness or disability, issues which will be compounded by ageing. At present, however, our understanding of these issues is patchy – ‘NICOLA’ will fill that gap.”
NICOLA consists of three stages, an interview conducted in the home, a questionnaire and a health assessment which will take place at the new Northern Ireland Clinical Research Facility at Belfast City Hospital. The assessments, completed by registered nurses, will include blood pressure readings, brain function (thinking) tests, blood sample collection and a detailed eye examination using equipment not available elsewhere in Northern Ireland. Follow-up interviews will be conducted every two years.
Professor Ian Young, Principal Investigator of the NICOLA Project, added: “Between 1982 and 2062 it’s estimated that the proportion of over 50s will increase by 70% to 45% of the total population. That’s an unprecedented demographic change that will have major ramifications for both rural and urban societies.
“NICOLA’ will help us change the way we live for the better and those participating in the study will leave a tangible legacy for future generations, as well as gaining a better understanding of their own health and wellbeing. The challenges facing over 50s in our rural communities differ significantly from the rest of the population and ‘NICOLA’ will help policy makers devise strategies which better reflect the diversity of our society.”
Over the next few months, potential participants in NICOLA will be contacted by letter and then approached by representatives from Ipsos MORI, the leading market research company which Queen’s University has appointed to conduct the home interviews. Everyone involved with NICOLA will carry ID clearly identifying their role with the project.
For more information email NICOLA@qub.ac.uk or contact 028 9063 3078.
(Source – Farming Life – 06/10/2014)