In this section you will find all the information you need about using the Specchio-Hub digital platform and answers to the most frequently asked questions about our studies.
If you cannot find an answer to your question, you can contact us using the contact form.
FAQ Index
The Specchio-Hub digital platform has been set up to enable people taking part in our studies to fill in questionnaires online, and to benefit from a personal space where they can easily find their questionnaires and the results of their biological tests, if they have carried them out. The platform is also designed to keep them informed of the progress of our studies and the results obtained, as well as facilitating direct and privileged access to our scientific teams.
Specchio means "mirror" in Italian. The term "mirror" refers to the fact that volunteers, by participating individually, contribute to the collective well-being of the people of Geneva. In a way, they are a reflection of the canton's health. In return, the study benefits not only researchers and public health decision-makers, but also the participants themselves.
The data collected will provide reliable, up-to-date indicators for a better understanding of the health needs of Geneva's population as a whole. These indicators will help the canton to put in place policies that promote good health for all. They will also help to highlight the social, economic and geographical disparities that can have an impact on health within the canton's population.
Epidemiology is the scientific discipline that studies the frequency and distribution of diseases in time and space in human populations, as well as their causes. Historically, epidemiology has, for example, highlighted the carcinogenic role of tobacco consumption or occupational exposure to asbestos. Epidemiology involves measuring the incidence (number of new cases) and prevalence (total number of cases) of a specific disease in a given population at a specific time or over a given period. This scientific discipline makes it possible to understand the causes of disease by identifying specific risk factors.
Furthermore, within a population, diseases and their risk factors are distributed differently according to age group, social class or other socio-demographic or clinical characteristics. This distribution changes over time and space. It is therefore important to have up-to-date incidence and prevalence figures and indicators differentiated by population group in order to assess health promotion and prevention needs. Epidemiology is the fundamental science on which public health is based
Most of the people taking part in our studies are selected by random selection from the population register residing in the canton of Geneva. This process enables us to select a study population that is representative of the population of Geneva in terms of age and gender. Depending on the needs of our studies, other people may be invited to participate.
Our studies cover a wide range of health issues. By analysing the data collected, our research will provide a better understanding of the mechanisms and changes in health status in relation to lifestyle, diet, personal and professional environment, and environmental exposure (noise, pollution, etc).
It is perfectly possible to participate in several studies at the same time.
The circuit of data collected via the Specchio-Hub platform has been authorised by the Cantonal Research Ethics Committee (CCER), under number 2020-00881. An individual information note and a consent form will be given to you when you first take part in one of our studies, or sent to you directly online (e-consent). All the information you agree to transmit via the platform is managed in complete confidentiality and for research purposes only. This information is not stored on the Internet under any circumstances, but is hosted on a secure server located in the canton of Geneva. Access to this server is protected in accordance with the latest Swiss and European data protection standards. This also applies to the return of your biological results, where applicable: the PDF file you find in your personal area is generated when you click on the link, and is never hosted online.
Your data and that of your child(ren) taking part in one of our studies is coded (i.e. no mention of surnames and forenames or other personal information) before any transmission to the research teams. The results of the analyses will only be published in aggregate form and without mention of your identity or that of your child(ren) taking part in one of our studies.
No, your results will not appear in your HUG medical file. Our studies are conducted independently by our research unit. Consequently, the data and results of your tests and biological examinations are kept coded (without mentioning your first and last names) and confidential. Your personal and health data will not be shared, either within the HUG or with third parties. If you wish this information to appear in your medical file, you are nevertheless free to forward your personal results to your primary care physician.
Your personal and individual details will never be passed on to insurance companies or any other third parties. Only the Specchio support team will be able to contact you via the e-mail, postal address or telephone number you provide when you register.
Encrypted data (i.e. without mentioning your first and last name or other personal information that could identify you) may only be transferred to research teams in Switzerland (in particular as part of the Swiss national research project Corona Immunitas) and abroad, as part of scientific partnerships, provided that these studies comply with standards and requirements that are at least equivalent to Swiss standards and requirements.
All legal provisions on data protection and human research are complied with.
You can find information on the progress of our studies and the results obtained by consulting our "News" page. You can also access the abstracts of our numerous scientific publications by consulting the "Research" page. Finally, we will be sending you a regular email newsletter. You will also be invited to themed events and meetings.
If you no longer wish to take part in our studies, please let us know using the contact form on the Specchio-Hub platform. We will then be able to remove you from our list of participants. You will then receive no further communication from us.
Yes, you can connect to the platform with any type of smartphone, regardless of your operating system (Android or iOS). To fill in the questionnaires, we recommend that you use a larger screen, such as a tablet or computer, or that you turn your smartphone horizontally.
On the home page of the Specchio-Hub platform, you can click on "forgot password". A new page will open inviting you to enter your e-mail address, to which a link will be sent within a minute. You will then be able to reset your password, subject to the following instructions:
Your password must be at least 10 characters long, including at least :
Please note that accented characters, full stops and/or commas are not accepted by our computer system.
To view your new password, click on the little eye icon below the field, which will make your entry visible.
If you do not receive a password reset e-mail, please use the contact form to let us know.
Any request to modify personal data must be sent to us using the platform's contact form.
When a new questionnaire is put online, an email is sent to the address you gave when you registered. You will find the new questionnaire available in your personal space. It is very important that you fill in the questionnaires regularly, as the more people who complete them, the more representative, reliable and statistically robust the results will be.
Some questionnaires are designed to 'monitor' your health: these are given to you every 3 to 6 months. Other questionnaires are 'themed' questionnaires: these are offered to you only once, as they relate to a specific research topic. As long as the questionnaire is available in your personal space, you can answer it. You will be notified of the number of questionnaires you have to complete and an estimate of the average time taken to complete each questionnaire.
When you complete your questionnaire (in "My questionnaires" - "Available questionnaires") and click on "Submit questionnaire", it is automatically sent to us. To be sure, you can check that it no longer appears in "Available questionnaires" and that it is now in "History".
Once your questionnaire has been sent to us, you will no longer be able to access it to make changes, for IT security reasons. However, some questionnaires are sent to you at regular intervals. You will therefore have the opportunity to update your data in the next questionnaire.
If you no longer receive e-mails from us, please let us know via the platform's contact form, indicating whether or not any questionnaires are listed under the "My questionnaires" - "Available questionnaires" tab in your personal area.
The aim of health prevention and promotion is to enable the entire population of Geneva to live as long as possible in good health, by reducing the risk of ill-health linked to modifiable risk factors such as diet, physical exercise, healthcare use, exposure to environmental pollution, etc. To achieve this objective, we need to know more about :
Only rigorous, large-scale observation systems such as Specchio will enable us to obtain high-quality data and robust results.
An epidemiological cohort is a type of survey based on the principle of monitoring a group of people over time in relation to one or more themes linked to their health. By taking part in Specchio, you become part of a cohort of volunteers committed to advancing health research. A cohort can be used for a number of purposes: description, study of the effects of exposure to risk factors on various health problems, evaluation of the effectiveness of public health interventions, and so on.
Epidemiological cohorts exist in many countries. They are often limited to specific themes or populations. So-called 'generalist' cohorts are rarer, but they do exist in France, the UK, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands.
While studies similar to Specchio exist elsewhere, we still need observation systems for what is happening locally, in order to identify and observe problems that are specific to Switzerland, taking into account specific features relating to the organisation of the healthcare system, for example. Specchio will provide a better understanding of the state of health of the population of the canton of Geneva.
Within Specchio, the themes are varied and may evolve over time. Particular attention is already being paid to improving medical and scientific knowledge in the following areas:
Specchio contributes to both public health and research.
People who are participating or have already participated in one of our studies are automatically invited to join Specchio. Any other volunteers may also register by creating an account on the Specchio-Hub platform. A specific consent form must be completed before you can receive questionnaires relating to the Specchio study.
Taking part in the "Specchio" project is first and foremost taking part in an epidemiological research project into the major health issues of our time. By volunteering, you undertake to answer 3 or 4 questionnaires a year, preferably online via our digital platform. If you wish, you can ask to take part via paper questionnaires. They will then be sent to your home address by post.
No, Specchio is an epidemiological study, not designed to test treatments of any kind. The aim is to describe the state of health of the population of Geneva and to set up epidemiological studies into the causes of certain illnesses. You may be asked about your prescribed consumption of medication, but under no circumstances will you be asked to try out a treatment. Nor will you be asked to undergo any kind of health test.
Yes, you can opt out at any time, without giving us any explanation and without this having any consequence whatsoever on your medical treatment at the HUG or in another healthcare establishment.
On an individual basis, you will have access to a range of scientific information and links to reliable information sites in the field of health and medical research. You will be able to take part in events organised by scientists, carers and the general public to encourage direct dialogue. By taking part in Specchio, you will also be able to compare your personal health situation with indicators assessed by several thousand participants.
We attach great importance to keeping Specchio participants informed. Several information channels have been set up to ensure that progress and results can be accessed quickly.
By getting involved in Specchio, the people taking part are collectively involved in the research. It's a way of taking action for their own health, and more broadly for the health of an entire population, of which they are a reflection. By helping to improve the health of the people of Geneva, the results of the study benefit society as a whole. Taken together, the results will help public authorities to develop measures that promote better health for everyone, at every stage of life.
The Bus Santé study, which has been conducted in the canton of Geneva since 1992, seeks to obtain an overview of the state of health of residents of the canton, with a particular focus on non-communicable (non-contagious) diseases such as cardiovascular disease and certain cancers and their risk factors.
The results of this study will help to advance research and inform public health decisions in the canton of Geneva.
Every year, over 1,000 adults aged 18 to 74 living in the canton of Geneva are randomly selected from the population register to take part in the Bus Santé study. Those selected are invited by post.
By taking part in the study, you are actively contributing to the progress of research and helping to improve public health policies. Collectively, the benefits accrue to society as a whole.
More than 20,000 Genevans have already taken part in the Bus Santé study over the last thirty years, enabling our teams to collect valuable health data every year to help us understand how certain diseases and their risk factors develop over time.
It is important that as many selected people as possible take part in the study to optimise the reliability of the data and the representativeness of the Geneva population. This involvement in research and public health in the canton is based on a genuine civic commitment.
Your participation in the Bus Santé study involves:
The visit will enable you to have a free health check-up.
You will be given the results of the health check-up, which will give you a better idea of your general state of health. The visit, analyses and results are paid for by us, at no cost to you or your insurance company.
Participation is voluntary. You agree to complete several questionnaires and to attend a health check-up at one of our specific sites throughout the canton of Geneva. You may decide to stop taking part at any time without giving any reason.
The answers you provide are a valuable source of information on the frequency of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors in the population of the canton of Geneva.
Lifestyle habits in general can be linked to the frequency of these diseases, and it is in order to help prevent these diseases in the population of the canton of Geneva that it is important to understand possible links between the population's lifestyles and the prevalence of certain diseases.
Historically, the study was called the "Health Bus" because in certain cases, and if the participant so wished, the health check-up could take place in the HUG's mobile Health Bus unit, which travels throughout the canton to be as close as possible to the population. Since the Health Bus took over in 2023, the study sites have been integrated into existing care structures in various districts of the City of Geneva and other Geneva municipalities:
You can have your health check-up at the location that suits you best, depending on the possibilities offered by the Bus Santé study when you book your appointment. Certain locations are preferable to others if you have reduced mobility.
Thanks to your participation, our research teams will be able to help assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and development of children and adolescents in the canton of Geneva.
The results will help to advance research and inform public health decisions concerning this population. In this way, young people are joining a collective civic effort that will benefit society as a whole.
Participation is open to children aged between 6 months and 17 years inclusive and living in the canton of Geneva. These children and adolescents are referred by their specialist doctors to the Children's Hospital of the HUG, or come from family households selected at random from the population register.
Participation requires the consent of a referring adult, as well as that of the adolescent, from the age of 14.
By means of online questionnaires, we are seeking to assess the extent to which the pandemic is influencing various aspects of the lives of the youngest members of the population, such as their physical and mental health and well-being, as well as their education, lifestyle and family and social environment. This long-term monitoring enables us to gather vital data about the present and future of this young population.
A serological test (blood sample) is offered to each participating child at the start of their participation and after 18 months. This is used to determine the presence or absence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, which may indicate a past infection or vaccination.
By taking part, you'll be able to find out whether your child has antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and whether they persist over time. You will be making an active contribution to a forward-looking collective effort to monitor the evolution of the pandemic, protect the most vulnerable populations and guide public health decisions concerning the canton's young population.
This longitudinal dimension is the study's added value. It allows the research teams to optimise their data and analyses. As duration and regularity over time are essential to guarantee the relevance of the scientific results, this online monitoring can last up to 30 months.
Your child will benefit from the use of Emla® anaesthetic cream to reduce the very slight pain potentially caused by the blood test. A reward will be offered to make the visit a pleasant one.
If the child does not wish to undergo serological testing by taking a blood sample at the start of participation and/or after 18 months, it is possible to take part in the follow-up by completing online questionnaires only. As the longitudinal dimension is the added value of the study, participation in the online follow-up is just as important as the serological test.
Participation is simple. It includes a serological test by taking a blood sample every 18 months and regular questionnaires to be completed online on various aspects of your child's health.
If the blood test is accepted by the child and the adult referee, the young participant goes to the HUG for a blood test accompanied by an adult referee.
The adult referee and the young person aged 14 or over are asked to fill in an initial questionnaire. They are then contacted 2 to 4 times a year for follow-up via online questionnaires, covering various aspects of the lives of the youngest patients, such as their physical and mental health, well-being, education, lifestyle and family and social environment.
Monitoring lasts for up to 30 months and is carried out on the Specchio-Hub secure digital platform.
Participation is voluntary. You may decide at any time to stop taking part, or your child's participation, without giving any reason.
The answers you provide represent a very important source of information for understanding the direct and indirect, short- and long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the paediatric population of the canton of Geneva. These data will be useful for furthering research and informing public health decisions concerning this population.
The virus responsible for COVID-19 is a member of the CoronaVirus family. Its scientific name is SARS-CoV-2. To find out what proportion of people have developed antibodies, we are carrying out a study known as "SEROprevalence" (SEROCoV). This study is being carried out among a young population of children, known as "KIDS". Hence the name of the study: SEROCoV-KIDS!
Your responses represent a very important source of information for studying the spread and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the canton of Geneva. By sending out questionnaires at regular intervals, it will be possible to assess the impact of the pandemic on the physical and mental health and socio-economic conditions of the people of Geneva. This data will be useful for furthering research into COVID-19.
The data collected will be used to describe the impact of the pandemic on the physical and mental health of the population of the canton of Geneva, on their professional, social, family and emotional lives, and to understand how the population has adapted and continues to adapt its behaviour and lifestyle (diet, physical exercise, alcohol and tobacco consumption) to the health situation. Your answers to these questions will also enable us to determine whether certain social groups have been more or less affected by the pandemic (for example, according to household composition, socio-economic or professional situation, or level of education).
By monitoring people who have contracted COVID-19 over several years, we will also be able to identify any long-term complications of the disease.
As with all data relating to our studies, we guarantee the confidentiality of all your personal data, which will only be analysed in coded form (i.e. without mentioning your first and last names).
Our studies fall within the Swiss legal framework and have been validated by the Cantonal Research Ethics Committee in accordance with strict standards.The serological tests (blood tests for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies) and the selection of eligible participants depend on the needs and objectives of the studies in progress.
The purpose of the serological tests is to update the serological status of the participants and to determine the lifespan of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the protection they provide against new SARS-CoV-2 infections.
We cannot guarantee that you will be offered a new serological test (even if you have been infected with SARS-CoV-2). However, if you are eligible for new serological tests in the future, you will be informed directly by e-mail.
In any case, we invite you to continue your participation in the study via the questionnaires available on your personal space on the Specchio-COVID19 platform to help us monitor the evolution of the pandemic and its impact on the health and daily lives of the people of Geneva.
At least one serological test (blood test for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies) is offered to you as part of the study. When this test is carried out, the blood sample taken may cause a small haematoma at the puncture site and very slight pain. The amount of blood taken is 6 ml or less, depending on the person's weight. Possible complications are rare and may include an infection at the puncture site or vagal discomfort during the blood test. Our qualified nurses follow standard sampling rules and safety measures to reduce the occurrence of potential complications.
For your child(ren) taking part in one of our studies, you will have the option of requesting an Emla® cream to be applied to the child's elbow to anaesthetise the puncture site and reduce the slight pain that may be caused by the blood test. One Emla® cream and two Tegaderm™ dressings per child will be sent to you by post with instructions for use.
You will find the documents relating to your serological test(s) and those of your child(ren) taking part in one of our studies in your personal space on the platform. The serological test we use is analysed by the HUG Virology Laboratory using the Roche system (Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 S). It is used to determine the level of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies present in your blood at the time of the test.
Only people taking part in the COVID-19 seroprevalence studies conducted by the HUG Population Epidemiology Unit are invited by e-mail to create an account on the Specchio-COVID19 platform and to take part in the follow-up study.
Taking part in Specchio-COVID19 is simple: you complete a compulsory initial online questionnaire (approx. 15 minutes), followed by regular questionnaires (approx. 5-10 minutes) to monitor your physical and mental health over time. You will regularly be asked to complete a questionnaire to monitor your COVID-19 status (rapid PCR or antigen tests, symptoms suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination status). Occasionally, other thematic questionnaires will be offered on more general subjects, but also in connection with the pandemic to find out about its health and socio-economic impact.
Depending on the needs of the study, some participants may be asked to undergo one or more new serological tests using blood samples, in order to update their immune status (search for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2). This will also make it possible to determine the lifespan of the antibodies and the protection they provide against new SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Specchio-COVID19 is a study which aims to identify the health (on several dimensions of health), economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the canton of Geneva, and in Switzerland as a whole. Specchio-COVID19 is part of the Swiss national research programme Corona Immunitas, coordinated by the Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+). Since the start of the pandemic, the results of Specchio-COVID19 have made it possible to assess, over time, what proportion of the population of Geneva has already been infected with SARS-CoV-2. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the dynamics of the progression of infection within the population, to describe the frequency of COVID-19 symptoms, and to model the evolution of herd immunity.
The aim of Specchio-COVID19 is to mobilise as many people as possible to take part. In this way, the study will provide reliable and robust results to advance research into COVID-19.
Today, the virus has not disappeared, and our role as scientists is to continue to closely monitor its evolution and spread in the population. Moreover, there are still many inequalities in the face of the disease and its consequences, including symptoms that persist for several weeks or months (post COVID). A better understanding of this virus and its variants will help to improve public health measures and decisions.
By taking part in Specchio-COVID19, you undertake to answer regular online questionnaires about your physical and mental health, your situation in relation to COVID-19, your experience of the consequences of the pandemic on your life (professional, social, family and emotional), your health behaviours (diet, exercise, alcohol and tobacco consumption) and your experience of access to healthcare. Only the initial questionnaire is compulsory in order to take part in the study. However, it is important that you complete the questionnaires regularly, even if you have no new symptoms.
You can stop taking part at any time by contacting our team, without having to justify your decision.
Your participation is entirely voluntary. There is no remuneration for your participation.
