Frequently Asked Questions

While we cannot provide individual level results because our data are used on an aggregate level, we can direct you to some of the amazing research being done with your HPFS data! 

The best place to read some of our most significant findings would be in our newsletters, which can be read online here. Additionally, our study contributes to the HSPH Nutrition Source, found here. The HSPH Nutrition Source website is a great resource to find food and nutrition guidance for healthier living! If you didn’t receive a copy of our latest newsletter in the mail and would like a paper copy, you can email us as hpfs@hsph.harvard.edu and we would be happy to mail you one as long as our supplies last!

Thank you for your interest, but unfortunately, no. The design of a cohort study like the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study requires that we track lifestyles and medical histories of the original group enlisted in 1986. We learn what to do by seeing how the subjects’ diets and lifestyles affect their health over time.

The most likely place to find articles published in health journals is your local medical library. In addition, some journals publish abstracts or full articles on the World Wide Web. If you don’t live near a medical library and the article you’re interested in isn’t on the web, ask a reference librarian at any public library to recommend a way to see a copy.

A. Due to our high frequency of calls, we are often unable to answer every call as it comes in. If you leave a message, we should be able to get back to you in a timely manner. Sending an email to hpfs@hsph.harvard.edu is the best way to get into contact with us to ensure the quickest response from one of our team members.

Accurate medical diagnoses are unique to individuals. It is impossible for us to give individualized responses to an individual’s health questions. Your personal physician is best able to provide useful advice.

We are so sorry for your loss. Please reach out to our team at hpfs@hsph.harvard.edu or call 617-998-1067 and leave a detailed message with the participant’s name, date of birth, date of death and participant ID number (if known). Thank you for letting us know. We are very grateful for your continued support and participation in HPFS.

The Health Professionals Follow-Up Study has a proud history of successful collaborations with investigators outside of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard medical community, subject to approval by the HPFS study group.  However, you are responsible for your own funding and must collaborate with one of the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study researchers. Please refer to the directions on our For External Collaborators page for further instruction on how to get involved with the HPFS as an external collaborator.

The questionnaires include items about medical conditions, medications, tobacco use, and exercise. In addition, every four years a food frequency questionnaire is administered to collect detailed information about amounts and types of foods and beverages consumed. The questionnaires can be found on our website linked here. Please pay close attention to the permissions surrounding the use of our questionnaires.

The validity of self-reported information has been tested several times by comparing subject reports against actual measurements. The evidence indicates that the data gathered in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study has a high degree of validity. (See publication lists for studies of questionnaire validity.)

No. All information gathered is anonymous, and identities of participants are never shared with anyone. In the offices housing the data, all identifying information, such as participants’ names and addresses, is separated from the health information and kept under lock and key.

Sometimes. Most of the interesting findings from the study are also examined using data from the Nurses’ Health Study, a similar research project with women as participants.

Approximately 93 percent of the original cohort still participates.

No, although the Health Letters may cite our reports.