Burden for STaff Working in the NHS

NCT04506632 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: STH21373
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The COVID-19 crisis began in China in December 2019 and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on March 11th 2020. The pandemic has changed the way that clinicians interact with and treat patients overnight. Staff within the NHS will be under high levels of stress due to the increased needs and worse outcomes of work as they are shielding or self-isolating and may feel helpless and guilty. The psychological impact of the pandemic will be prolonged and varied. It is vital that Investigators increase understanding as much as possible to support NHS staff. The aim of this survey is to examine the possible mental health burden on NHS staff as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and how these change as the pandemic progresses. By understanding these effects, it will allow researchers to identify recommendations to allow support mechanisms to be put in place for NHS staff, to better manage this and future pandemics and similar crises. Investigators are aiming to sample several cohorts of NHS staff including a subset of staff who are shielding. Staff will be asked to complete a series of online surveys at multiple timepoint: on study initiation, 1 month later and then 3 months after the pandemic has ceased in the UK. Additional timepoints may be added depending on the length and severity of the pandemic. The main outcomes will be tracking changes in mental health measurements at the pre-defined timepoints. This work will allow Investigators to produce recommendations about the increased mental health support that NHS staff will need. If a need is demonstrated then an interventional research project will be designed and implemented.

Conditions

COVID-19; Mental Health Burden

Keywords

COVID-19; Coronavirus; NHS staff; Mental health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Changes in Depression

  We will assess depression with 9 items (PHQ-9);

  UP to 3 months after the pandemic ends in the UK

• Changes in Anxiety

  measured by GAD-7

  UP to 3 months after the pandemic ends in the UK

• Changes in feelings of paranoia

  measured by the short Green paranoia scale

  UP to 3 months after the pandemic ends in the UK

• Traumatic Stress

  As measured by PHQ-15

  UP to 3 months after the pandemic ends in the UK

• conspiracy mentality and social interactions

  as measured by the loneliness scale

  UP to 3 months after the pandemic ends in the UK

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study will recruit NHS staff that are working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

You may qualify if:

• Participants aged 16 years or over
• Participants must be working in the NHS
• NHS staff that are shielding will be eligible to participate
• NHS staff that are self-isolating will be eligible to participate
• Able and willing to provide informed consent
• Able to read and understand English

You may not qualify if:

• Participants will not be excluded on any other basis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: lead
• University of Sheffield: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sheffield, S10 1SJ, United Kingdom

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19; Coronavirus Infections; Psychological Well-Being

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Personal Satisfaction; Behavior

Study Officials

• Sarah Danson, Professor

  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: ECOLOGIC OR COMMUNITY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2020
• First Posted: August 10, 2020
• Study Start: June 2, 2020
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2025
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: February 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GB (1)