Investigating the COVID Experience of People with Arthritis (ICEPAC)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the COVID Experience of People with Arthritis and their Care (ICEPAC)
IRAS ID
300222
Contact name
Samantha Hider
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Keele University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Background:
COVID-19 is a global health problem. Many people with arthritis or related conditions were asked to take special precautions called “shielding” to protect them from COVID-19 infection. The wider impact of the pandemic on physical and mental health of people with arthritis is not yet clear. COVID had led to big changes in the way care is delivered with more remote consultations which may present challenges for people without access to technology (called “digital access”). We want to find out more about
1. The impact of the pandemic on
a. arthritis symptoms (e.g. joint pain)
b. emotional well-being, mood, work and physical activity
2. How often people reported COVID-19 symptoms and the outcomes from these (such as being admitted to hospital or developing long COVID)
3. What access people have to technology and whether they use it for health information or research.
4. How people received care for their arthritis, such as remote consultations, and how these could be improved
Methods:
Potential participants will be identified from their hospital electronic healthcare records (DIAMOND). People will be approached by SMS if they have a mobile phone number or by post and invited to fill in a survey either on-line, by post or by phone. They will be asked to consent to a researcher looking at their medical records for details of any COVID-19 testing or hospital admissions, medication and other health conditions.
Outputs:
This study will help us understand what the broader impacts of the pandemic have been for patients. This will help determine what support is needed to help people manage their arthritis and how best to deliver arthritis care in the future.REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/PR/0867
Date of REC Opinion
8 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion