The CLSA has launched its fifth full wave of data collection from participants across the country.
The latest wave, known as Follow-up 4, includes repeat questions from previous data collection waves to allow researchers to be able to assess how the health and well-being of participants change over time. It also introduces new questions focused on understanding ageism experiences and cannabis use.
Participants in the Comprehensive Cohort will now undergo echocardiograms to examine the structure and function of the heart, a new eye test to assess contrast sensitivity, and a smell test to better understand how smell changes as we age.
 |
 |
 |
| Participants who visit CLSA Data Collection Sites will undergo echocardiograms (left), a new vision test (middle), and an olfactory test (right) during Follow-up 4. | ||
Within the CLSA, approximately 3.7% of participants self-identified as Indigenous during Baseline data collection between 2010 and 2015. However, a consultation process with Indigenous researchers identified opportunities to improve the data collection and data access processes within the CLSA to ensure research involving First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples is conducted in a manner that respects Indigenous data governance principles and rights.
For Follow-up 4, the CLSA collaborated with an Indigenous research team to add a question on Indigenous identity and expanded its questions on sex and gender to include Two-Spirit identity.
Two-Spirit is a term developed by Indigenous lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or non-heterosexual (LGBTQ+) to describe Indigenous Peoples who embody diverse sexualities, gender identities, roles and/or expressions.
The goal is to help develop a clearer picture of Indigenous and Two-Spirit identity within the CLSA.
Overall, the changes in Follow-up 4 aim to enhance and align CLSA data collection with participants’ diverse perspectives and experiences, allowing for better understanding of health, well-being, and aging across the lifespan.
