About
The objective is to establish a reference group of 300 healthy children living in Tromsø for the study of the gut microbiome and metabolome in childhood. This reference cohort will be used as a control population when studying acute and chronic diseases in children in future ethically approved research.
Recruitment of participants
Children 0-6 years are recruited at the Public Health Stations in Tromsø, where nurses inform the parents/legal guardians about the project. If the parents/legal guardians want to consent on behalf of their children or need more information about the project, they can scan a QR code that directs them to this study web page. Potential participants can send an e-mail or SMS to the study group and indicate whether they wish to participate or need more information. Members of the study group will then contact them with information about the project and/or consent form.
Children 6-15 years will be recruited through their parents at parent-teacher-meeting at selected schools in Tromsø, where the project coordinator will inform them about the project and offer the consent form. Parents of children younger than 16 years will consent on the child's behalf.
Youth 16-18 years will be informed about the study by school nurses. If they are interested in participating, they can scan a QR code directing them to the study information and send an e-mail or SMS to the study group to either consent or get more information.
Youths of 16-18 will consent themselves if they want to participate.