Why should Schuylkill County residents participate in the National Children’s Study?
How do I know if I am eligible to participate in the National Children’s Study?
What if someone enrolls in the study and moves out of the designated geographical area in which the study is being conducted?
Why was Schuylkill County selected as a Study location?
How long will the National Children’s Study be conducted in Schuylkill County?
How will Schuylkill County residents be recruited to participate in the National Children’s Study?
What kind of information will be collected from participants?
Where will participants be interviewed?
Do the hospitals and health care providers in Schuylkill County support the National Children’s Study?
Why should Schuylkill County residents participate in the National Children’s Study?
- It is exciting that Schuylkill County was chosen as one of 105 Study locations, and the County has an important role to play.
- It is the largest study of the environment’s effects on children’s health and development ever conducted in the United States.
- Participating in the Study could help improve the health and well-being of future generations of children.
- Joining the Study involves providing information through interviews before and during pregnancy and as children grow. Participants are not asked to take medicine or receive treatment.
- Participants are given a monetary thank you for their time.
- All of the information collected is confidential and used for research purposes only.
In addition, please review the Top 10 Reasons To Join the National Children's Study (PDF 145 KB).
How do I know if I am eligible to participate in the National Children’s Study?
Certain geographic segments of Schuylkill County were randomly selected to take part in the Study. Only women and families who live within the preselected Study areas are eligible to participate. If you or someone you know is pregnant or planning to become pregnant and lives in Schuylkill County, please contact us for more information.
What if someone enrolls in the study and moves out of the designated geographical area in which the study is being conducted?
If a participant (consented) moves out of the Study area during her pregnancy or after her child's birth, she and her baby could still remain in the Study.
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Why was Schuylkill County selected as a Study location?
Families who participate in the National Children’s Study will come from 105 Study locations (counties or groups of counties) across the United States. All locations were selected using a random sampling method to ensure children and families across the nation—from diverse ethnic, racial, economic, religious, geographic, and social groups—are represented in the Study. The Study locations selected include 79 metropolitan areas (urban, suburban, and small cities) and 26 rural communities. Only certain geographic segments of each county were randomly selected to participate in the Study.
How long will the National Children’s Study be conducted in Schuylkill County?
The enrollment phase of the Study will continue for several years, and the Study will continue for 21 years past the enrollment phase. By following children from before birth to age 21, Study researchers hope to better understand how children’s genes and their environment interact to affect their health and development.
How will Schuylkill County residents be recruited to participate in the National Children’s Study?
Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant will be recruited for the Study at local obstetrical practices, but also are encouraged to contact us to see if they are able to participate. The Study team provides information and updates about the Study at community events and through the local media.
What kind of information will be collected from participants?
Women who enroll will be asked to complete questionnaires about their environment, medical conditions, and overall health. After their children are born, they will be asked to complete similar interviews and the Study team may collect biological samples and environmental samples like air, water, and dust from their environment. Members of the Study team will meet with families in their homes and in clinical settings, and data also will be collected using telephone, online, or mail-in questionnaires.
Where will participants be interviewed?
Participants can be interviewed at home, or women may visit the National Children's Study office located on Route 901 (the Gordon Nagle Trail) in Pottsville. The Study team is very flexible and schedules appointments at times that are convenient for participants.
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Do the hospitals and health care providers in Schuylkill County support the National Children’s Study?
The hospitals and health care providers in the county have expressed great enthusiasm and support for the Study. Schuylkill Medical Center South Jackson Street has entered into a working relationship with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to assist with the Study. We encourage you to talk to your health care providers about the Study.
Please visit our CHOP Study Center Frequently Asked Questions page for more general questions and answers about the Study.