Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
COVID-19 is a condition caused by the coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) that was first identified in late 2019. This virus can infect the respiratory (breathing) system. Some people do not have symptoms but can carry the virus and pass it on to others. People who have developed the condition may develop a fever and/or a continuous cough among other symptoms. This can develop into pneumonia. Pneumonia is a chest infection where the small air pockets of the lungs, called alveoli, fill with liquid and make it more difficult to breathe.
In 2020, the virus has spread to many countries around the world and neither a vaccine against the virus or specific treatment for COVID-19 has yet been developed. As of April 2020, it is advised that people minimize travel and social contact, and regularly wash their hands to reduce the spread of the virus.
Groups who are at a higher risk from infection with the virus, and therefore of developing COVID-19, include people aged over 70 years, people who have long-term health conditions (such as asthma or diabetes), people who have a weakened immune system and people who are pregnant. People in these groups, and people who might come into contact with them, can reduce this risk by following the up-to-date advice to reduce the spread of the virus.
This study will investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health and wellbeing of NHS staff in England.
Who can participate?
All staff working at or with a participating NHS Trust
What does the study involve?
A combination of online questionnaires and, with a smaller group of participants, more detailed telephone interviews. Participants will complete questionnaires about their health, distress, and work environment at the start of the study and 4 and 8 months later. The follow-up over time is to see whether the participants' mental health improves or worsens and to identify which groups of staff may need tailored support. The questionnaire has been produced alongside healthcare staff in local NHS Trusts. The researchers have formed a study steering panel consisting of representatives whose support they have already gained (e.g., unions, employers, and different staff groups). They will feedback emerging results to participating Trusts, networks, their partners, and NHS England, from which they have full encouragement, to help them prepare for future psychological health and workforce planning needs.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Although there are no immediate individual benefits of taking part, participants will have the unique opportunity to contribute to some innovative and valuable research which may later be used across the world. Individuals may also find it helpful to reflect on the current situation and anonymously express their feelings concerning a stressful and unprecedented global event. The results will feed directly into supporting the NHS workforce during the pandemic. It is hoped that this research will help bring about improvements in policies and practices for NHS colleagues now and in the future. The researchers do not foresee any risks occurring from participation but if the questions lead to any distress they direct all participants who would like emotional support or find completing the survey causes distress to reach out to someone they trust. They also provide suggestions of outside support which can be accessed.
Where is the study run from?
This study is a collaborative effort led by a research team at King’s College London and King’s Health Partners supported by expert clinicians, frontline staff and researchers across different NHS Trusts and Universities, and the NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
April 2020 to April 2022
Who is funding the study?
1. King's College London (KCL) (UK)
2. NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the Maudsley (UK)
3. Rosetrees Trust (UK)
4. University College London (UCL) (UK)
5. Medical Research Council (MRC) (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Rupa Bhundia
NHSCHECK@kcl.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Simon Wessely
ORCID ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6743-9929
Contact details
King's College London
London
SE5 9AF
United Kingdom
-
NHSCHECK@kcl.ac.uk
Type
Public
Additional contact
Miss Rupa Bhundia
ORCID ID
Contact details
King's College London
London
SE5 9AF
United Kingdom
-
NHSCHECK@kcl.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
Nil known
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Nil known
Protocol/serial number
IRAS 282686, CPMS 46176
Study information
Scientific title
NHS CHECK: The psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NHS affiliated staff – monitoring the response to the pandemic and the evaluation of local and national staff support programmes
Acronym
NHS CHECK
Study hypothesis
To establish a cohort of NHS-affiliated staff to investigate the short, medium- and longer-term psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on staff performance and wellbeing.
Ethics approval
REC review not required as this study involves NHS staff
Approved 24/04/2020, Health Research Authority (HRA) (address and tel not provided; approvals@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 20/HRA/2107
Study design
Multicentre cohort study
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cohort study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Other
Patient information sheet
https://www.nhscheck.org/CHECK_participant_information_sheet.pdf
Condition
The psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NHS affiliated staff – monitoring response to the pandemic and the evaluation of local and national staff support programmes
Intervention
Baseline online survey launched in April 2020 followed by repeated surveys at month 4, 8 and 12. The 4-month survey includes an evaluation of staff support programmes. A subset of participants will also be invited to participate in psychiatric diagnostic interviews between month 4 and month 8.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
General (non-psychotic) psychiatric morbidity, resilience, anxiety, depression, wellbeing, moral injury and burnout measured using online survey at baseline, month 4 and 12
Secondary outcome measures
Tiered and tailored staff support programmes being implemented locally and nationally, evaluated using online survey at month 4
Overall trial start date
01/04/2020
Overall trial end date
23/04/2022
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Affiliated NHS member of staff, working at, or with, the participating NHS Trusts during the COVID-19 pandemic
2. Aged 18 and over
3. Able to give informed consent to take part in research
4. Able to understand and communicate in English
5. Have access to the internet to complete the surveys
6. Have access to an email address to facilitate survey registration and receive survey links
Participant type
Health professional
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
25% of the workforce at each participating sites, roughly 20,000
Participant exclusion criteria
1. If participants are not an affiliated NHS member of staff, working at, or with, the participating NHS Trusts
2. Aged under 18
3. Unable to give informed consent to take part in research
4. Unable to understand and communicate in English
5. No access to the internet to complete the surveys
6. No access to an email address to facilitate survey registration and receive survey links
Recruitment start date
24/04/2020
Recruitment end date
23/04/2022
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Westminster Bridge Rd
London
SE1 7EH
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
King's College Hospital
Denmark Hill
Brixton
London
SE5 9RS
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
Maudsley Hospital
Denmark Hill
London
SE5 8AZ
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Bristol
BS16 2EW
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
GL1 2EL
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust
Turner Rd
Mile End
Colchester
CO4 5JL
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 3NE
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Duncan Macmillan House
Porchester Road
Nottingham
NG3 6AA
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Foundation Trust
Infirmary Square
Leicester
LE1 5WW
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
Cambridge
CB21 5EF
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Colney Lane
Norwich
NR4 7UY
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Hills Road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Sheffield Health and Social Care Trust
Fulwood House
Old Fulwood Road
Sheffield
S10 3TH
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Sceptre Point
Sceptre Way
Walton Summit Rd
Walton Summit Centre
Preston
PR5 6AW
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust
Middlesborough
TS6 0SZ
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Wonford House
Dryden Rd
Exeter
EX2 5AF
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Carew House, Beacon Technology Park
Dunmere Rd
Bodmin
Cornwall
PL31 2QN
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Papworth Rd
Trumpington
Cambridge
CB2 0AY
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
King's College London
Sponsor details
James Clerk Maxwell Building
57 Waterloo Road
London
SE1 8WA
United Kingdom
-
R&D@gstt.nhs.uk
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Charity
Funder name
Rosetrees Trust
Alternative name(s)
Teresa Rosenbaum Golden Charitable Trust, Rosetrees
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
Location
United Kingdom
Funder name
Medical Research Council
Alternative name(s)
MRC
Funding Body Type
government organisation
Funding Body Subtype
National government
Location
United Kingdom
Funder name
University College London
Alternative name(s)
UCL
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Universities (academic only)
Location
United Kingdom
Funder name
King’s College London
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
private sector organisation
Funding Body Subtype
Universities (academic only)
Location
United Kingdom
Funder name
NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at the Maudsley
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal. The researchers will feedback emerging results to participating Trusts, networks, their partners, and NHS England, from which they have full encouragement, to help them prepare for future psychological health and workforce planning needs. Additional documents are not currently available.
IPD sharing statement
The data-sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
01/01/2021
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list