The Norwegian Women and Cancer study (NOWAC)

The Norwegian Women and Cancer study (NOWAC) was established in 1991 in order to increase the knowledge about prevention of cancer and premature death, nationally and globally. The main aim of NOWAC is to study factors affecting the risk of disease and survival of cancer. An additional aim is to generate knowledge about the association between lifestyle and health in general. Out of 327 476 women randomly drawn from the Norwegian population aged 30 to 70 years, 172 472 women responded to at least one questionnaire about lifestyle, diet, socioeconomic conditions, reproductive history, use of oral contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapy and use of medicine. The majority of the women has completed at least two follow-up questionnaires, and the last and fourth questionnaire follow up was carried out in 2017. Additionally, 50 000 of the women donated blood samples, including preserved mRNA in PAX tubes, white blood cells (buffy coat) and plasma in 2003-2006, and completed a corresponding two pages questionnaire. Data on cancer incidence and cause-specific mortality is updated annually from the Cancer Registry and the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. As the data controller, UiT the Arctic University of Norway is responsible for the cohort and the storage of questionnaire data and data generated from the biological material. Statistics Norway holds the key linking the project-specific ID number with the national identity number. Data generated from biological material are stored and analysed in HUNT Cloud. Other data processors are TSD and Microsoft 365.

Legislation

• The Public Health Act
• The Health Research Act
• Personal Health Data Filing System Act (The Health Register Act)
• The Personal Data Act
• The General Data Protection Regulation
• The Research Ethics Act
• The Patient Injury Act
• The Public Administration Act
• The Freedom of Information Act
• The Patient and Consumer Rights Act
• The Regulation relating to population-based health surveys

Data controller

UiT The Arctic University of Norway

Contact information

https://uit.no/research/nowac NOWAC@uit.no NOWAC’s scientific leader Tonje Braaten +47 77 64 48 20/o NOWAC’s administrative employee Bente Richardsen Isaksen + 47 77 64 50 21Department of Community MedicineUiT The Arctic University of NorwayPP Box 6050 LangnesN-9037 TromsøNORWAY