Structure and content were ascertained.
Children whose parents/guardians did not consent and those whose age could not be ascertained were excluded from the study.
Control subjects were ascertained with written informed consent from the Irish GeneBank and represented blood donors from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.
In the present study, the capacity to self-complete the study questionnaires was ascertained at baseline when consent was granted either by the participant or their proxy.
Patient relatives and control individuals were ascertained after written informed consent, within the frame of the medical ethical approved genetic study protocol.
Cases were women for whom a diagnosis of histologically confirmed primary epithelial ovarian cancer was ascertained within 1 year of consent.
With informed consent, the socio-demographic characteristics of study participants were ascertained by means of the application of a structured questionnaire, at which time 10 ml of venous blood was collected.
If caregivers and children agree to participate, written consent for participation and access to CPS records will be ascertained.
The vast majority of cases were ascertained within 1 3 months of diagnosis; physician consent to contact patients was generally obtained within 1 month, and approximately 70% of questionnaires were returned within 2 months of mailing.
With informed consent, the characteristic information of all study subjects, including sex, age, ethnicity, HBsAg and anti-HCV, were ascertained as described previously [ 7], at the same time 4 ml of peripheral blood was also collected.
Patients will be ascertained via these available methods, and given or sent information leaflets before being consented (minimum 24 hours) to take part in the study.
