The SAMINOR 2 Clinical Survey

The second survey of the Population-based Study on Health and Living Conditions in Regions with Sami and Norwegian Populations (SAMINOR 2) was conducted by the Centre for Sami Health Research at UiT The Arctic University of Norway in 2012–2014. The survey was conducted in two stages. Stage 2, the SAMINOR 2 Clinical Survey, also called the “Health and Lifestyle Survey”, was conducted by the Centre for Sami Health Research in 2012–2014 in ten selected municipalities, all of which participated in SAMINOR 1 and in stage 1 of SAMINOR 2.

Municipalities Selected for Participation in the SAMINOR 2 Clinical Survey

Skånland and Evenes (September-October 2012)
Karasjok (January-February 2013)
Kautokeino (February-March 2013)
Porsanger (April-May 2013)
Kåfjord (September-October 2013)
Storfjord (October-November 2013)
Nesseby and Tana (February-April 2014)
Lyngen (May-June 2014)

Implementation of the Survey

Prior to the survey, cooperation was established with the authorities in each municipality. These provided suitable premises for examination sites or other assistance, and freed municipal health workers to work in the clinical survey. The Centre for Sami Health Research rented or borrowed premises in the various municipalities and established an examination site for the period of data collection. Mostly, local health workers were freed to work at the examination site. A total of 70 hired staff were involved in collecting the data.

About one month before the survey, the selected population received a pamphlet in the post containing information about the forthcoming health survey (pamphlet in Sami, pamphlet in Kven). The target group was the entire population aged 40-79, regardless of whether or not they participated in Stage 1. They subsequently all received a personal invitation, including an information letter, a scheduled appointment (also in Sami) and a questionnaire. About halfway through the survey period, those who had not yet attended received a reminder in the post (also in Sami).

The survey consisted of a clinical examination and blood tests, and participants were also asked to complete a questionnaire and bring it to the appointment. Participants aged 70–79 received a separate questionnaire designed for older people. There were thus two questionnaires related to Stage 2: one of eight pages for people aged 40 to 69 years (also in Sami) and one of four pages for people aged 70 to 79 years (also in Sami).

Clinical measurements

Height, weight, hip and waist circumference, pulse and blood pressure were measured.

Blood samples

Non-fasting blood samples were taken. Long-term blood sugar (HbA1c) and haemoglobin levels were analysed on site. All participants were offered written results of the measures taken at the station, including long-term blood sugar and haemoglobin levels. In the case of abnormal findings, participants were referred to their GP. Other samples were frozen and sent to UiT The Arctic University of Norway to be stored in the biobank. Lipids, biomarkers for diabetes, inflammatory reactions, iron status and some vitamins were analysed at the University Hospital of North Norway in autumn 2014. In spring 2016, vitamin D was analysed in Helsinki, Finland. Environmental toxins have also been analysed for a selection of participants. The remaining blood samples were stored in the biobank for later analysis.

Participation in the SAMINOR 2 Clinical Survey

	Men			Women			Total
Age	No. invited	No. of participants	%	No. invited	No. of participants	%	No. invited	No. of participants	%
40-44	867	255	29.4	836	388	46.4	1703	643	37.8
45-49	907	283	31.2	795	364	45.8	1702	647	38.0
50-54	883	319	36.1	777	406	52.3	1660	725	43.7
55-59	897	372	41.5	848	481	56.7	1745	853	48.9
60-64	970	481	49.6	872	535	61.4	1842	1016	55.2
65-69	930	488	52.5	817	504	61.7	1747	992	56.8
70-74	591	336	56.9	550	333	60.5	1141	669	58.6
75-79	424	213	50.2	491	246	50.1	915	459	50.2
Totalt	6469	2747	42.5	5986	3257	54.4	12455	6004	48.2

Funding

The survey received research funding from:

The Northern Norway Regional Research Fund
The county councils of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark
Northern Norway Regional Health Authority (Helse Nord)
The Sami Parliament
The Sámi Norwegian National Advisory Unit on Mental Health and Substance Use (SANKS)
The Ministry of Health and Care Services

None of the above have conflicts of interest in the study.

Data Controller (Databehandlingsansvarlig)

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is Data Controller.