Theoretical and Practical Aspects of the of Iranian Teachers Cohort Study: A Methodology Report

Lifestyle and its various components have multiple effects on human health and disease. These include dietary intakes and nutritional patterns, which can greatly prevent non-communicable diseases by adhering to dietary recommendations and guidelines. One of the most important and practical studies, showing relationships between the diets and diseases and the level of health in each country, is the cohort design of the study that can show the trend of changes in incidence and exposure over time. Design of the Iranian teacherschr('39') cohort, which specifically investigates relationships between the food intake, nutritional status and physical activity and the incidence of non-communicable diseases, began in 2001. To design the study and compile the questionnaire, advices of Dr. Walter Wilt from Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, USA, were used. This study was carried out in collaboration with the Office of Community Nutrition Improvement, the Office of Health and Wellness of the Ministry of Education and the Center for Research on Social Determinants of Health, Iran. The choice of teachers was due to their ability to understand and answer questions. The self-administered questionnaire was developed based on the data from the Institutechr('39')s 2000–2002 national food consumption survey as well as statistical methods to investigate food items and their portion sizes. In a pilot study on 1000 teachers in Tehran, the feasibility of the study was verified. In general, follow up of outcomes in teachers includes fewer barriers due to their use of national insurance services.