RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

The Next Step Towards the Elimination of Iodine Deficiency and Preventable Iodine-related Disorders in Europe

This study, called EUthyroid2, is an educational project aimed at helping young people aged 13-17 understand the importance of iodine. Iodine deficiency is a common problem that can affect how our bodies, especially our brains, develop. This project will work with schools in the UK, Germany, Slovenia, Cyprus, Bangladesh, and Pakistan to teach students about iodine and its health risks. The goal is to raise awareness and help prevent health issues caused by not getting enough iodine in their diet. Researchers will check if the education helps students learn more about iodine after the lessons.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

EUthyroid

Enrolment target

4,500

Start

30 Dec 2024

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2025

Iodine Deficiency

What is this study about?

This study, called EUthyroid2, is a research project focused on an important health topic: iodine deficiency. Iodine is a vital mineral that our bodies need, especially for our thyroid gland which controls many important functions, including how our brains develop. When someone doesn't get enough iodine, it's called iodine deficiency, and it can cause serious health problems, particularly for children and their brain development.

The main goal of this project is to create and deliver educational lessons in schools across several countries, including the UK. These lessons are designed to teach students aged 13 to 17 years old about what iodine is, why it's important, and the health risks of not having enough of it. By raising awareness early, the researchers hope to help prevent future health problems related to iodine deficiency.

Researchers will be working with students and teachers in different types of schools (secondary, high, and vocational schools) to see how well these educational programmes work. They will collect information from about 4,500 students in total to understand if the lessons are helping young people learn more about iodine and how they can make sure they get enough.

Key takeaways

The study teaches young people about the importance of iodine for health.
It aims to prevent health problems caused by not getting enough iodine.
Participants will be students aged 13-17 in schools.
Involves educational lessons and completing a few questionnaires.
Results could help improve health education in schools.
Participation is voluntary and confidential.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be between 13 and 17 years old. You also need to be able to understand the information about the study and agree to participate in the language it’s offered in.

There are no other specific requirements that would stop you from taking part, and you don't need to have any particular health condition. As long as you meet the age and language requirements, you could be included.

Quick self-check

Are you between 13 and 17 years old?
Can you understand information about the study in English (or the local language)?
Are you willing to participate in classroom lessons and answer questionnaires?
Do you want to learn more about iodine and your health?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

If you take part in this study, your role would be to participate in an educational programme about iodine at your school. You would also fill out some questionnaires. This would usually involve one survey before the educational lessons, another survey a few weeks after the lessons, and a final survey about six to eight months later. The surveys will ask about your understanding of iodine and your eating habits related to iodine.

Your teachers might also be asked to complete online questionnaires and potentially take part in short interviews to help the researchers understand how the educational programme is working. There are no medications involved in this study, and no extra visits outside of your school setting.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help you learn more about iodine and how to keep yourself healthy. The information gathered from this study could also help health authorities improve educational programmes for young people in the future. There are no known physical risks associated with participating in this educational study. All your answers will be kept private. Remember, you can choose to stop participating at any time without giving a reason, and it won't affect you in any way.

Locations (6)

Bangladesh University of Health
Dhaka, Bangladesh· Recruiting
Cyprus University of Technology
Limassol, Cyprus· Recruiting
University Medicine Greifswald
Greifswald, Germany· Recruiting
Islamia College Peshawar
Peshawar, Pakistan· Recruiting
University Medical Centre Ljubljana
Ljubljana, Slovenia· Recruiting
University of Surrey; Queen's University Belfast
Guildford, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is iodine deficiency?

Iodine deficiency means your body doesn't have enough iodine, which can affect your thyroid gland and cause problems with development, especially brain development in children.

Who is running this study?

This study is part of the EUthyroid2 project, involving researchers and educators across several countries, including the UK.

What will I have to do if I join?

You'll take part in educational lessons at school and complete a few questionnaires over several months about your understanding of iodine and your diet.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes, all your answers and personal information will be kept confidential and private.

Can I leave the study if I change my mind?

Absolutely, you can choose to stop participating at any time, for any reason, and it won't affect you negatively.

How to find out more

Henry Völzke

henry.voelzke@med.uni-greifswald.de 0049 3834 86 75 41 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.