The Ohio First Responders Stress and Health Study

Ohio First Responders, identified as firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and law enforcement, ages 18+ years old who are working during the COVID-19 pandemic and receive a link for study participation from our study team. If you have not received an emailed link, and would like to inquire about eligibility, please email us at stresslab@osumc.edu.

If you take part in this study you will complete an online questionnaire which requires 15-20 minutes to complete. Follow-up questionnaires are planned, with the first occurring at about one year after the first questionnaire. Your continued participation is completely voluntary.

You also have the option of providing dried blood spot samples. If you participate in this part of the study, you will be mailed a small package that has all the materials needed to collect 5 drops of blood at home. You will prick your finger and leave 5 drops of blood on a small sample collection card. You will mail your blood spots to The Ohio State University using the postage paid return envelope.

All study data will be collected in a completely anonymous manner to protect confidentiality. This means that no name, address, or other identifying information will be collected. In order to allow us to link your questionnaire answers over time, and to link your questionnaires with your biological samples (if provided), you will be asked to create a unique code that only you will know and that cannot be reasonably used to identify you.

Note: If you participate in the biological sample portion of the study, we will request your address in order to send you the collection materials. However, when you return the kit to us, it will only be labeled with your unique code, which you will create here. We will never be able to link your name or address with your sample.

These dried blood spot samples will be stored at The Ohio State University. Measures of health will be done by our team of researchers at The Ohio State University. Your blood samples will never be sent to any other institution for any reason. In addition, your blood specimens will never be used for genetic research (mapping your DNA or whole genome sequencing) at any time. Any samples still remaining after 7 years will be destroyed. 

The types of tests that may be conducted are listed below. 

• Inflammatory Markers are associated in risk for cardiovascular disease and other chronic health conditions. Examples include C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α).
• Appetite Hormones affect feelings of hunger and are linked with risk for obesity. These include adiponectin, insulin, and leptin.
• Reproductive Health Markers provide an indication of the health of the reproductive system; for example, in women, Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) provides information about fertility, which has been linked with stress in some studies. 
• Immune Function may be assessed by measuring markers including levels of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies. These are viruses that most people carry. Higher antibodies are linked with greater stress exposure.
• Blood Cell Function may be assessed to determine how the functioning of cells in the body are affected by factors including stress and poor sleep.
• COVID-19 Antibodies may be examined to determine prior exposure to the novel coronavirus. These data may be used to see if COVID-19 antibody levels are associated with differences in inflammatory markers, which are the main focus of this study (see first item above).

No information can be provided to participants about the results of any tests or biomarkers assessed because all questionnaire and dried blood spot samples will be collected and analyzed in a completely anonymous manner in order to protect confidentiality. Your questionnaires and biological samples (if applicable) will be identified only by a unique code that you create and that only you will know.

There is no compensation to you for participating in this study. Your participation will help us to create interventions targeting stress and health among first responders.

For questions contact:

If you have questions, we are pleased to help! Please email the Stress, Behavioral Immunology, and Health Disparities Lab at stresslab@osumc.edu. We will respond to you as soon as possible.