The Montreal Neighbourhood Networks and Healthy Aging Panel

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Social networks, social capital, i.e., network-accessed resources, and neighbourhood environments have been shown associated with a range of health behaviours and conditions, including obesity, physical activity, nutrition, and mental health. Research on social capital and health in Montreal has shown the importance of network social capital for a person's subjective health status, sense of control, self-reported physical activity, and obesity. Research has also shown high social capital to reduce health service use, mental health service use, and improve the management of chronic illnesses. Despite advances in the understanding of social capital and its link to health and health service use, most research on social capital is cross sectional and is unable to identify the causal pathways linking social networks and capital to health and health care use. Longitudinal research would strengthen the evidence base for designing interventions to prevent or delay the use of health services, particularly in older adults. This research has three main objectives: (1) transform the original sample of Montreal Neighbourhood Networks and Healthy Aging (MoNNET-HA) households (n=2707) into a panel study, (2) link the MoNNET-HA participant data to their Quebec Health Insurance Registry (Régie de l'assurance maladie (RAMQ)) information, and (3) assess the feasibility of extending the MoNNET-HA panel by one wave to include participant's core network members. Unique about the original MoNNET-HA sample is that it purposefully oversampled older adults (> 64 years old) but remains representative of Montreal adults at various ages and income levels. In addition, MoNNET-HA data is integrated into a GIS database which allows researchers to examine the effects of neighbourhood environmental characteristics on health. By linking MoNNET-HA data to RAMQ, researchers will be able to examine patterns of diagnosed health conditions, (e.g., fractures, depression), pharmaceutical use and adherence, and formal health care use over time. Transforming the cross-sectional study into a panel study would also allow researchers to examine longitudinally the dynamics of health and health care utilization among Panel participants over the life course, and the causal pathways linking neighbourhoods and networks to health and health care use.

Official Title
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The Montreal Neighbourhood Networks and Healthy Aging Panel (MoNNET-HA)

Conditions
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Obesity, Depression, Physical Activity, Hypertension, Health Behavior, Subjective Health

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Social capital; Neighborhood environment


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Adults 25 years and older, Residents of the Montreal Metropolitan Area, Canada, Had to reside at current residence for at least one year Exclusion Criteria: Non- French or English-speaking households Institutionalized

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 25 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| MoNNET-HA Panel<br>Adults 25 years and older residing in the Montreal Metropolitan Area | Other: Social capital; Neighborhood environment<br>* Observational study examining the relationship among neighborhood environment, social capital and health among Montreal adults<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Obesity | Self-reported height and weight converted to BMI with obesity =>30 | Change from wave one obesity at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | 
| Change in Depression | Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression 10-item Binary Scale; Depression was =>4 | Change from wave one depression at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | 
| Change in Physical inactivity | International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to measure a person's metabolic equivalent of task (MET) over a one-week period; Physical inactivity was defined as having a MET of less than 600. | Change from wave one physical inactivity at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | 
| Change in Hypertension | Self-reported doctor-diagnosed hypertension | Change from wave one hypertension at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | 
| Change in Subjective Health | Self-reported health: 5 response options: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor | Change from wave one subjective health at wave two (2010) and wave three (2013) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Social Capital, Social Support, Neighborhood, Population Health, Healthy Aging, Adult, Canada