We will recruit participants via an online portal that will be distributed as widely as possible to the Norwegian public. The trial will be fully remote and virtual without any personal interaction between investigators and participants.
NOTE: A similar study is about to be implemented in Denmark. We are closely collaborating with colleagues in other countries to ensure that our protocols are as similar as possible, so facilitate synthesis of findings.
All members of the public can take part as long as they confirm that they
- are at least 18 years of age
- do not regularly wear glasses
- own or can borrow glasses that they can use (e.g. sun-glasses)
- have not contracted COVID-19 since December 15th 2021.
- are willing to be randomized to wear, or not wear glasses outside their home when close to others for a 2-week period.
- provide informed consent
Persons who are dependent on visual aids but typically use contact lenses are eligible.
Informed, electronically signed consent (MinID or BankID) will be collected on the same web-page where people can sign up to participate and consent to being randomized to the intervention or control group. Participants will also consent to the collection and use of information from questionnaires and national registers.
This study aims to determine the impact of wearing glasses, in real life circumstances. The intervention is to wear sunglasses or other types of glasses when close to other people outside their home (on public transport, in shopping centres etc.). Consequently, the control group will be encouraged not to wear glasses close to other people outside their home.
The intervention group will be asked to wear sunglasses (or other types of glasses) when close to others outside their home, e.g. on public transport, in shopping centres etc.
Outcomes
Day 1 of trial period is the first day the individual participates in the trial. The intervention group will be asked to wear glasses until day 14. Three days later (day 17), the participants will complete an online questionnaire.
The primary outcome is
- positive COVID-19 test result registered in public registry (from day 3 to day 17; MSIS database).
Secondary outcomes are
- health care use for respiratory symptoms (from day 3 to day 28; KPR and NPR databases)
- health care use for injuries (from day 1 to day 21; KPR and NPR databases)
- health care use (all causes) from day 1 to day 21 (data source: KPR and NPR databases)
- any positive COVID-19 test result (from day 1 to day 17; self report)
- respiratory symptoms from day 1 to day 17 (self report)
- health care use for respiratory symptoms (from day 1 to day 17; self report)
- health care use for injuries (from day 1 to day 17; self report)
- health care use (all causes) (from day 1 to day 17; self report)