Social mixing patterns in the UK following the relaxation of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions: a cross-sectional online survey

Background Since 23 March 2020, social distancing measures have been implemented in the UK to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to quantify and characterize non-household contact and to identify the effect of shielding and isolating on contact patterns. Methods Through an online questionnaire, the CoCoNet study measured daily interactions and mobility of 5143 participants between 28 July and 14 August 2020. Negative binomial regression modelling identified participant characteristics associated with contact rates. Results The mean rate of non-household contacts per person was 2.9 d-1. Participants attending a workplace (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) 3.33, 95%CI 3.02 to 3.66), self-employed (aIRR 1.63, 95%CI 1.43 to 1.87) or working in healthcare (aIRR 5.10, 95%CI 4.29 to 6.10) reported significantly higher non-household contact rates than those working from home. Participants self-isolating as a precaution or following Test and Trace instructions had a lower non-household contact rate than those not self-isolating (aIRR 0.58, 95%CI 0.43 to 0.79). We found limited evidence that those shielding had reduced non-household contacts compared to non-shielders. Conclusion The daily rate of non-household interactions remains lower than pre-pandemic levels, suggesting continued adherence to social distancing guidelines. Individuals attending a workplace in-person or employed as healthcare professionals were less likely to maintain social distance and had a higher non-household contact rate, possibly increasing their infection risk. Shielding and self-isolating individuals required greater support to enable them to follow the government guidelines and reduce non-household contact and therefore their risk of infection.

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Survey of young people in one region of the UK on accessing COVID-19 information (SOCIAL)

BMJ Paediatrics Open ◽

10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000942 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. e000942

Author(s):

Oliver G P Lawton ◽

Sarah A Lawton ◽

Lisa Dikomitis ◽

Joanne Protheroe ◽

Joanne Smith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Young People ◽

Significant Role ◽

Online Survey ◽

Descriptive Statistics ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Education Gaps ◽

The Uk

COVID-19 has significantly impacted young people’s lives yet little is known about the COVID-19 related sources of information they access. We performed a cross-sectional survey of pupils (11–16 years) in North Staffordshire, UK. 408 (23%) pupils responded to an online survey emailed to them by their school. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data. Social media, accessed by 68%, played a significant role in the provision of information, despite it not being considered trustworthy. 89% felt that COVID-19 had negatively affected their education. Gaps in the provision of information on COVID-19 have been identified.

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Doctors’ perception of support and the processes involved in complaints investigations and how these relate to welfare and defensive practice: a cross-sectional survey of the UK physicians

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017856 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (11) ◽

pp. e017856 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Tom Bourne ◽

Bavo De Cock ◽

Laure Wynants ◽

Mike Peters ◽

Chantal Van Audenhove ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Well Being ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Perceived Support ◽

Survey Study ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Final Sample ◽

Perception Of Support ◽

The Uk

ObjectiveHow adverse outcomes and complaints are managed may significantly impact on physician well-being and practice. We aimed to investigate how depression, anxiety and defensive medical practice are associated with doctors actual and perceived support, behaviour of colleagues and process issues regarding how complaints investigations are carried out.DesignA survey study. Respondents were classified into three groups: no complaint, recent/current complaint (within 6 months) or past complaint. Each group completed specific surveys.SettingBritish Medical Association (BMA) members were invited to complete an online survey.Participants95 636 members of the BMA were asked to participate. 7926 (8.3%) completed the survey, of whom 1780 (22.5%) had no complaint, 3889 (49.1%) had a past complaint and 2257 (28.5%) had a recent/current complaint. We excluded those with no complaints leaving 6144 in the final sample.Primary outcomes measuresWe measured anxiety and depression using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale 7 and Physical Health Questionnaire 9. Defensive practice was assessed using a new measure for avoidance and hedging.ResultsMost felt supported by colleagues (61%), only 31% felt supported by management. Not following process (56%), protracted timescales (78%), vexatious complaints (49%), feeling bullied (39%) or victimised for whistleblowing (20%), and using complaints to undermine (31%) were reported. Perceived support by management (relative risk (RR) depression: 0.77, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.83; RR anxiety: 0.80, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.87), speaking to colleagues (RR depression: 0.64, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.84 and RR anxiety: 0.69, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.94, respectively), fair/accurate documentation (RR depression: 0.80, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.86; RR anxiety: 0.81, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.87), and being informed about rights (RR depression 0.96 (0.89 to 1.03) and anxiety 0.94 (0.87 to 1.02), correlated positively with well-being and reduced defensive practice. Doctors worried most about professional humiliation following a complaint investigation (80%).ConclusionPoor process, prolonged timescales and vexatious use of complaints systems are associated with decreased psychological welfare and increased defensive practice. In contrast, perceived support from colleagues and management is associated with a reduction in these effects.

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Current therapy for the upper limb after stroke: a cross-sectional survey of UK therapists

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030262 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. e030262 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rachel Stockley ◽

Rosemary Peel ◽

Kathryn Jarvis ◽

Louise Connell

Keyword(s):

Upper Limb ◽

Online Survey ◽

Current Therapy ◽

Future Research ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy ◽

Therapy Interventions ◽

The Uk

ObjectivesTo survey the reported content, frequency and duration of upper limb treatment provided by occupational and physiotherapists for people after stroke in the UK.DesignA cross-sectional online survey was used. Description and analysis of the data were based on items from the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (Who, Where, What and How much).SettingThe online survey was distributed via professional and social networks to UK-based therapists.ParticipantsRespondents were occupational or physiotherapists currently working clinically in the UK with people after stroke. Over the 6 week data collection period, 156 respondents opened the survey, and 154 completed it. Respondents comprised 85 physiotherapists and 69 occupational therapists.ResultsRespondents reported treating the upper limb a median of three times a week (range: 1 to 7) for a mean of 29 min (SD: 18). Most (n=110) stated this was supplemented by rehabilitation assistants, family and/or carers providing additional therapy a median of three times a week (range 1 to 7). Functional training was the most commonly reported treatment for people with mild and moderate upper limb deficits (>40%). There was much less consistency in treatments reported for people with severe upper limb deficits with less than 20% (n=28) reporting the same treatments.ConclusionsThis study provides a contemporaneous description of reported therapy in the UK for people with upper limb deficits after stroke and a detailed template to inform standard therapy interventions in future research. Several evidence-based therapies were reported to be used by respondents (eg, constraint induced movement therapy), but others were not (eg, mental imagery). The findings also highlight that the current reported provision of upper limb therapy is markedly less than what is likely to be effective. This underlines an urgent need to configure and fund services to empower therapists to deliver greater amounts of evidence-based treatment for people with upper limb deficits after stroke.

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A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey of UK Breast Surgeons’ Views on the Management of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ

International Journal of Breast Cancer ◽

10.1155/2015/104231 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Gurdeep S. Mannu ◽

Joao H. Bettencourt-Silva ◽

Farid Ahmed ◽

Giles Cunnick

Keyword(s):

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ ◽

Carcinoma In Situ ◽

Online Survey ◽

Ductal Carcinoma ◽

National Guidelines ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Specialist Registrar ◽

The Uk

Background. There is wide variation in the management of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) nationwide. We aimed to investigate whether the attitudes of surgeons towards different aspects of DCIS treatment varied by seniority of surgeon or by geographical region within the UK.Materials and Methods. A nationwide online survey targeted at UK breast surgeons was undertaken. The anonymous survey contained questions regarding demographics of respondents and specific questions regarding DCIS management that were identified as areas of uncertainty during a systematic search of the literature.Results. Responses from 80 surgeons were obtained. Approximately 57% were male and the majority were consultant or specialist registrar. Approximately 63% of participants were based in district general hospitals with all training deaneries represented. Surgeons’ views on the prognosis and management of DCIS varied geographically across the UK and terminology for DCIS varied with surgeon seniority. Surgeons’ views particularly differed from national guidance on indications for SLNB, tamoxifen, and follow-up practice.Conclusion. Our survey reaffirms that, irrespective of national guidelines and attempts at uniformity, there continues to be a wide variety of views amongst breast surgeons regarding the ideal management of DCIS. However, by quantifying this variation, it may be possible to take it into account when examining long-term trends in nationwide treatment data.

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Early perceptions and behavioural responses during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional survey of UK adults

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043577 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. e043577

Author(s):

Christina Atchison ◽

Leigh Robert Bowman ◽

Charlotte Vrinten ◽

Rozlyn Redd ◽

Philippa Pristerà ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Perceptions ◽

Adult Population ◽

Preventive Measure ◽

Adjusted Relative Risk ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Behavioural Responses ◽

Work From Home ◽

The Uk

ObjectiveTo examine risk perceptions and behavioural responses of the UK adult population during the early phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in the UK.DesignA cross-sectional survey.SettingConducted with a nationally representative sample of UK adults within 48 hours of the UK Government advising the public to stop non-essential contact with others and all unnecessary travel.Participants2108 adults living in the UK aged 18 years and over. Response rate was 84.3% (2108/2500). Data collected between 17 March and 18 March 2020.Main outcome measuresDescriptive statistics for all survey questions, including number of respondents and weighted percentages. Robust Poisson regression used to identify sociodemographic variation in: (1) adoption of social distancing measures, (2) ability to work from home, and (3) ability and (4) willingness to self-isolate.ResultsOverall, 1992 (94.2%) respondents reported at least one preventive measure: 85.8% washed their hands with soap more frequently; 56.5% avoided crowded areas and 54.5% avoided social events. Adoption of social distancing measures was higher in those aged over 70 years compared with younger adults aged 18–34 years (adjusted relative risk/aRR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1 to 1.5). Those with lowest household income were three times less likely to be able to work from home (aRR: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.24 to 0.45) and less likely to be able to self-isolate (aRR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.88 to 0.96). Ability to self-isolate was also lower in black and minority ethnic groups (aRR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79 to 1.0). Willingness to self-isolate was high across all respondents.ConclusionsAbility to adopt and comply with certain non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) is lower in the most economically disadvantaged in society. Governments must implement appropriate social and economic policies to mitigate this. By incorporating these differences in NPIs among socioeconomic subpopulations into mathematical models of COVID-19 transmission dynamics, our modelling of epidemic outcomes and response to COVID-19 can be improved.

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How did COVID-19 measures impact sexual behaviour and access to HIV/STI services in Panama? Results from a national cross-sectional online survey

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2021-054985 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. sextrans-2021-054985

Author(s):

Amanda Gabster ◽

Jennifer Toller Erausquin ◽

Kristien Michielsen ◽

Philippe Mayaud ◽

Juan Miguel Pascale ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Casual Sex ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Sti Testing ◽

Sexual Behaviours ◽

Urban Rural ◽

Mixed Ethnicity

ObjectiveTo describe reported changes in sexual behaviours, including virtual sex (sexting and cybersex), and access to HIV/STI testing and care during COVID-19 measures in Panama.MethodsWe conducted an online cross-sectional survey from 8 August to 12 September 2020 among adults (≥18 years) residing in Panama. Participants were recruited through social media. Questions included demographics, access to HIV/STI testing and HIV care, and sexual behaviours 3 months before COVID-19 social distancing measures and during social distancing measures (COVID-19 measures). Logistic regression was used to identify associations between variables and behavioural changes.ResultsWe recruited 960 participants; 526 (54.8%) identified as cis-women, 366 (38.1%) cis-men and 68 (7.1%) non-binary or another gender. The median age was 28 years (IQR: 23–37 years), and 531 of 957 (55.5%) were of mixed ethnicity (mixed Indigenous/European/Afro-descendant ancestry). Before COVID-19 measures, virtual sex was reported by 38.5% (181 of 470) of cis-women, 58.4% (184 of 315) cis-men and 45.0% (27 of 60) non-binary participants. During COVID-19 measures, virtual sex increased among 17.2% of cis-women, 24.7% cis-men and 8.9% non-binary participants. During COVID-19 measures, 230 of 800 (28.8%) participants reported decreased casual sex compared with pre-COVID-19 measures. Compared with pre-COVID-19 measures, decreased casual sex was reported more frequently during COVID-19 measures by cis-men compared with cis-women (39.2% vs 22.9%, urban/rural adjusted OR (AOR)=2.17, 95% CI 1.57 to 3.01), and by Afro-descendant compared with participants of mixed ethnicity (40.0% vs 29.8%, AOR=1.78, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.94). Compared with no change in virtual sex (16.8%), increased virtual sex (38.5%, AOR=1.78, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.88) and decreased virtual sex (86.7%, AOR=16.53, 95% CI 7.74 to 35.27) were associated with decreased casual sex encounters. During COVID-19 measures, HIV/STI testing could not be obtained by 58.0% (58 of 100) of the participants who needed a test, and interrupted HIV care was reported by 53.3% (8 of 15) of participants living with HIV.ConclusionsCOVID-19 measures in Panama were associated with a decrease in casual sex among cis-men and Afro-descendant people, while access to HIV/STI testing and care was seriously disrupted.

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Intention to have the seasonal influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic among eligible adults in the UK: a cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049369 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. e049369

Author(s):

Susan M Sherman ◽

Julius Sim ◽

Richard Amlôt ◽

Megan Cutts ◽

Hannah Dasch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Positive Attitude ◽

Online Survey ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

The Uk ◽

To Receive

ObjectiveTo investigate the likelihood of having the seasonal influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals who were eligible to receive it.DesignWe conducted a cross-sectional online survey in July 2020. We included predictors informed by previous research, in the following categories: sociodemographic variables; uptake of influenza vaccine last winter and beliefs about vaccination.Participants570 participants (mean age: 53.07; 56.3% female, 87.0% white) who were eligible for the free seasonal influenza vaccination in the UK.Results59.7% of our sample indicated they were likely to have the seasonal influenza vaccination, 22.1% reported being unlikely to have the vaccination and 18.2% were unsure. We used logistic regression to investigate variables associated with intention to receive a seasonal influenza vaccine in the 2020–2021 season. A positive attitude to vaccination in general predicted intention to have the influenza vaccine in 2020–2021 (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.77, p<0.001) but the strongest predictor of intention was previous influenza vaccination behaviour (OR 278.58, 95% CI 78.04 to 994.46, p<0.001).ConclusionsPrevious research suggests that increasing uptake of the influenza vaccination may help contain a COVID-19 outbreak, so steps need to be taken to convert intention into behaviour and to reach those individuals who reported being unlikely or unsure about having the vaccine.

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The Association between Care Left Undone and Temporary Nursing Staff ratios in Acute Settings: A cross- sectional survey of registered nurses

10.21203/rs.2.22471/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Michaela Senek ◽

STEVE ROBERTSON ◽

TONY RYAN ◽

RACHEL KING RN ◽

EMILY WOOD ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Registered Nurses ◽

Nursing Staff ◽

Online Survey ◽

Health Workers ◽

Secondary Data ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Difference ◽

Temporary Staffing ◽

The Uk

Abstract Background: The shortage of health workers is a global phenomenon. To meet increasing patient demands on UK health services, providers are increasingly relying on temporary staff to fill permanent posts. This study examines the occurrence of ‘care left undone’, understaffing and temporary staffing across acute sector settings. Methods: “Secondary data analysis from an RCN administered online survey covering nurses from hospitals and trusts across all four UK countries. Staffing and ‘care left undone’ measures were derived from the responses of 8,841 registered nurses across the UK. A locally smoothed scatterplot smoothing regression analysis (Loess) was used to model the relationship between any ‘care left undone’ events and full complement, modest and severely understaffed shifts, and proportions of temporary staff. Results: Occurrence of ‘care left undone’ was highest in Emergency Departments (48.4%) and lowest in Theatre settings (21%). The odds of ‘care left undone’ increase with increasing proportion of temporary staff. This trend is the same in all understaffing categories. On shifts with a full quota of nursing staff, an increase in the proportion of temporary staff from 0 to 10 per cent increases the odds of care left undone by 6 per cent (OR= 1.06, 95 % CI, 1.04-1.09). Within the full quota staffing category, the difference becomes statistically significant (p<0.05) on shifts with a proportion of temporary nursing staff of 40 per cent or more. On shifts with a full quota of nursing staff the odds of a ‘care left undone’ event is 10 per cent more with the proportion of temporary nursing staff at 50 per cent, compared to shifts with modest understaffing of 25 per cent or less with no temporary nursing staff (OR=1.1, 95%CI, 0.96-1.25). Conclusion: The odds of a ‘care left undone’ event are similar for fully staffed shifts with a high temporary nursing staff ratio compared to severely understaffed shifts with no temporary nursing staff. Increasing the proportion of temporary nurse staff is associated with higher rates of self-reported care left undone by nursing staff. This has significant implications for nurse managers and policy makers.

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Social Distancing, Lockdown Obligatory, and Response Satisfaction During COVID-19 Pandemic: Perception of Nigerian Social Media Users

Advanced Journal of Social Science ◽

10.21467/ajss.7.1.44-53 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 44-53

Author(s):

Olalekan Seun Olagunju ◽

Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa ◽

Tesleem Kayode Babalola

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Public Perception ◽

Online Survey ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Effective Measure ◽

Social Distancing ◽

General Acceptance

Background: Pandemics are challenging for clinical and public health agencies and policymakers because of the scientific and medical uncertainty that accompanies novel viruses like COVID-19 makes an increase of morbidity and mortality prominent. Consequently, there is a need to evaluate the public perception of social distancing, lockdown obligatory, and response satisfactory during the pandemic. Methods: This cross-sectional survey used an anonymous online google based questionnaire to collect data from respondents via social media platforms. The online survey was conducted among social media users from 1st to 30th April 2020. A snowball sampling technique was employed to recruit respondents for the survey. A total of 1,131 respondents responded across the country. Results: Nine out of every ten respondents believed that social distancing is an effective measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Also, 8 out of every ten respondents agreed with the lockdown measures. However, just 36.8% think their government is doing enough to stop the outbreak, and only 25% of the respondents were satisfied with the country’s response to the worldwide epidemic. The age of respondents was found to be significantly associated with satisfaction with emergency response during pandemics. Conclusion: It could be concluded that Nigerian public accepted social distancing as an effective way of curbing the spread of COVID-19 and general acceptance on lockdown obligatory; however, more than half of respondents expressed non-satisfactory with government and other agencies responses during the pandemics.

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Using the Health Belief Model to design a questionnaire aimed at measuring people's perceptions regarding COVID-19 immunity certificates

10.1101/2021.11.12.21266257 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Corina Elena Niculaescu ◽

Isabel Karen Sassoon ◽

Irma Cecilia Landa-Avila ◽

Ozlem Colak ◽

Gyuchan Thomas Jun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Belief Model ◽

Online Survey ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Health Belief ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Perceived Severity ◽

The Uk ◽

Belief Model ◽

The Health Belief Model

The present short communication paper describes the methodological approach of applying the Health Belief Model to the use COVID-19 immunity certificates in the UK. We designed an online survey including an adaptation of the following Health Belief Model constructs: perceived COVID-19 susceptibility, perceived COVID-19 severity, perceived benefits of using immunity certificates, perceived barriers from using immunity certificates, perceived severity of not using immunity certificates, and perceived vaccination views. The online cross-sectional survey conducted on the 3rd of August 2021 gathered responses from 534 participants aged 18 and older, representative of the UK population in terms of gender, age, and ethnicity.

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