scholarly journals The United Kingdom Research study into Ethnicity And COVID-19 outcomes in Healthcare workers (UK-REACH): protocol for a prospective longitudinal cohort study of healthcare and ancillary workers in UK healthcare settings

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. e050647
Author(s):  
Katherine Woolf ◽  
Carl Melbourne ◽  
Luke Bryant ◽  
Anna L Guyatt ◽  
I Chris McManus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Ethnic Minority Groups ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Sensitive Topics ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality and devastated economies globally. Among groups at increased risk are healthcare workers (HCWs) and ethnic minority groups. Emerging evidence suggests that HCWs from ethnic minority groups are at increased risk of adverse COVID-19-related outcomes. To date, there has been no large-scale analysis of these risks in UK HCWs or ancillary workers in healthcare settings, stratified by ethnicity or occupation, and adjusted for confounders. This paper reports the protocol for a prospective longitudinal questionnaire study of UK HCWs, as part of the UK-REACH programme (The United Kingdom Research study into Ethnicity And COVID-19 outcomes in Healthcare workers).Methods and analysisA baseline questionnaire will be administered to a national cohort of UK HCWs and ancillary workers in healthcare settings, and those registered with UK healthcare regulators, with follow-up questionnaires administered at 4 and 8 months. With consent, questionnaire data will be linked to health records with 25-year follow-up. Univariate associations between ethnicity and clinical COVID-19 outcomes, physical and mental health, and key confounders/explanatory variables will be tested. Multivariable analyses will test for associations between ethnicity and key outcomes adjusted for the confounder/explanatory variables. We will model changes over time by ethnic group, facilitating understanding of absolute and relative risks in different ethnic groups, and generalisability of findings.Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by Health Research Authority (reference 20/HRA/4718), and carries minimal risk. We aim to manage the small risk of participant distress about questions on sensitive topics by clearly participant information that the questionnaire covers sensitive topics and there is no obligation to answer these or any other questions, and by providing support organisation links. Results will be disseminated with reports to Government and papers submitted to pre-print servers and peer reviewed journals.Trial registration numberISRCTN11811602; Pre-results.

scholarly journals The United Kingdom Research study into Ethnicity And COVID-19 outcomes in Healthcare workers (UK-REACH): Protocol for a prospective longitudinal cohort study of healthcare and ancillary workers in UK healthcare settings

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Woolf ◽  
Carl Melbourne ◽  
Luke Bryant ◽  
Anna L Guyatt ◽  
Chris McManus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Explanatory Variables ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Sensitive Topics ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

AbstractIntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality, and has devastated economies in many countries. Amongst the groups identified as being at increased risk from COVID-19 are healthcare workers (HCWs) and ethnic minority groups. Emerging evidence suggests HCWs from ethnic minority groups are at increased risk of adverse COVID-19-related physical and mental health outcomes. To date there has been no large-scale analysis of these risks in UK healthcare workers or ancillary workers in healthcare settings, stratified by ethnicity or occupation type, and adjusted for potential confounders. This paper reports the protocol for a prospective longitudinal questionnaire study of UK HCWs, as part of the UK-REACH programme (The United Kingdom Research study into Ethnicity And COVID-19 outcomes in Healthcare workers).Methods and analysisA baseline questionnaire with follow-up questionnaires at 4 and 8 months will be administered to a national cohort of UK healthcare workers and ancillary workers in healthcare settings, and those registered with UK healthcare regulators. With consent, data will be linked to health records, and participants followed up for 25 years.Univariate associations between ethnicity and primary outcome measures (clinical COVID-19 outcomes, and physical and mental health) and key confounders/explanatory variables will be tested, followed by multivariable analyses to test for associations between ethnicity and key outcomes adjusted for the confounder/explanatory variables, with interactions included as appropriate. Using follow-up data, multilevel models will be used to model changes over time by ethnic group, facilitating understanding of absolute and relative risks in different ethnic groups, and generalisability of findings.Ethics and disseminationThe study is approved by Health Research Authority (reference 20/HRA/4718), and carries minimal risk to participants. We aim to manage the small risk of participant distress due to being asked questions on sensitive topics by clearly indicating on the participant information sheet that the questionnaire covers sensitive topics and that participants are under no obligation to answer these, or indeed any other, questions, and by providing links to support organisations. Results will be disseminated with reports to Government and papers uploaded to pre-print servers and submitted to peer reviewed journals.Registration detailsTrial ID: ISRCTN11811602STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDYNational, UK-wide, study, aiming to capture variety of healthcare worker job roles including ancillary workers in healthcare settings.Longitudinal study including three waves of questionnaire data collection, and linkage to administrative data over 25 years, with consent.Unique support from all major UK healthcare worker regulators, relevant healthcare worker organisations, and a Professional Expert Panel to increase participant uptake and the validity of findings.Potential for self-selection bias and low response rates, and the use of electronic invitations and online data collection makes it harder to reach ancillary workers without regular access to work email addresses.

scholarly journals Ethnic Disparities in the Development of Sight-Threatening Diabetic Retinopathy in a UK Multi-Ethnic Population with Diabetes: An Observational Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 740
Author(s):  
Manjula D. Nugawela ◽  
Sarega Gurudas ◽  
Andrew Toby Prevost ◽  
Rohini Mathur ◽  
John Robson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Groups ◽  
Ethnic Differences ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Ethnic Disparities ◽  
Ethnic Minority Groups ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Observational Cohort ◽  
General Practices

There is little data on ethnic differences in incidence of DR and sight threatening DR (STDR) in the United Kingdom. We aimed to determine ethnic differences in the development of DR and STDR and to identify risk factors of DR and STDR in people with incident or prevalent type II diabetes (T2DM). We used electronic primary care medical records of people registered with 134 general practices in East London during the period from January 2007–January 2017. There were 58,216 people with T2DM eligible to be included in the study. Among people with newly diagnosed T2DM, Indian, Pakistani and African ethnic groups showed an increased risk of DR with Africans having highest risk of STDR compared to White ethnic groups (HR: 1.36 95% CI 1.02–1.83). Among those with prevalent T2DM, Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Caribbean ethnic groups showed increased risk of DR and STDR with Indian having the highest risk of any DR (HR: 1.24 95% CI 1.16–1.32) and STDR (HR: 1.38 95% CI 1.17–1.63) compared with Whites after adjusting for all covariates considered. It is important to optimise prevention, screening and treatment options in these ethnic minority groups to avoid health inequalities in diabetes eye care.

scholarly journals An RDoC-Based Approach to Adolescent Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors: The Interactive Role of Social Affiliation and Cardiac Arousal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin W Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Sensitive Period ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Peer Conflict ◽  
Biological Stress ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Transition To Adolescence ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) increase dramatically across adolescence. Despite the prevalence and severity of these outcomes, remarkably little research has elucidated why adolescence represents a particularly high-risk period for the emergence of SITB. Recent theoretical models have posited that SITB may result from failures in biological stress regulation in the context of social stress. However, there is a lack of data examining these associations during the transition to adolescence, a sensitive period of development that is characterized by changes across socio-affective and psychophysiological domains that may interact to heighten risk for SITB. The present study used a prospective longitudinal design among 147 adolescents. We built on advantages offered by the RDoC framework to test the interaction of experiences of social conflict (i.e., parent and peer conflict) with cardiac arousal (i.e., resting heart rate) to predict adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal ideation (SI) across one year. Longitudinal analyses revealed that while neither greater peer conflict nor higher cardiac arousal at baseline were associated with SITB outcomes at follow-up, adolescents experiencing the combination of greater peer conflict and higher cardiac arousal at baseline showed significant longitudinal increases in NSSI at follow-up. In addition, there were null effects for family conflict and SI outcomes. Findings indicate that youth with greater peer conflict and heightened arousal during the transition to adolescence may be at increased risk for NSSI. Future research should examine these processes at finer timescales in order to elucidate whether these factors are proximal predictors of within-day SITB.

scholarly journals Quality of Follow-Up After Hospitalization for Mental Illness Among Patients From Racial-Ethnic Minority Groups

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 888-896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Carson ◽  
Andrew Vesper ◽  
Chih-nan Chen ◽  
Benjamin Lê Cook
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Ethnic Minority Groups ◽  
Racial Ethnic

The Recruitment and Retention of Members of Black and other Ethnic Minority Groups to NHS Research Ethics Committees in the United Kingdom

2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babatunde A. Gbolade
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Research Ethics ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Ethics Committees ◽  
Research Ethics Committees ◽  
Ethnic Minority Groups ◽  
Recruitment And Retention ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
The United Kingdom

The publication ‘Governance arrangements for NHS Research Ethics Committees’ is clear in its recommendations about the composition of National Health Service research ethics committees in the United Kingdom. It highlights the need for a sufficiently broad range of experience and expertise, balanced age and gender distribution and every effort to be made to recruit members from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, as well as people with disabilities. It was considered that this composition would make it possible for the scientific, clinical and methodological aspects of a research proposal to be reconciled with the welfare of research participants, and with broader ethical implications. Black and other ethnic minorities constitute 7.9 per cent of the UK population. Ideally, in any research ethics committee with a maximum of 18 members, at least one would be a member of the black or other ethnic minority groups. However, this does not appear to be the case; some committees having more than one, while most do not have any. This paper looks at the present position and suggests ways of improving recruitment and retention of members of these groups.

scholarly journals Growth hormone replacement does not increase serum prostate-specific antigen in hypopituitary men over 50 years

2002 ◽  
pp. 59-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
CW le Roux ◽  
PJ Jenkins ◽  
SL Chew ◽  
C Camacho-Hubner ◽  
AB Grossman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prostate Specific Antigen ◽  
Gh Deficiency ◽  
Hormone Replacement ◽  
Specific Antigen ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽  
Serum Prostate Specific Antigen ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Igf I ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiological studies have shown an increased risk for prostate carcinoma in men with serum IGF-I in the upper part of the age-related reference range. Recombinant human GH (rhGH) is widely used in patients with GH deficiency, usually raising the serum IGF-I levels into the normal range: safety surveillance is therefore mandatory, with particular regard to neoplasia. The aim was to examine whether rhGH replacement in hypopituitary adults is associated with changes in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a surrogate marker of changes in prostatic growth. DESIGN AND METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was used with a median follow-up of 22 (range 2.5-32) months, in which 41 men aged over 50 years with adult onset hypopituitarism and GH deficiency during rhGH replacement were examined. Serum PSA and IGF-I were measured at baseline and at latest follow-up. RESULTS: Mean serum PSA remained unchanged during rhGH replacement, with a median follow-up of 2 years. No correlation was found between the individual changes in serum IGF-I and changes in serum PSA. CONCLUSIONS: These data are reassuring thus far regarding the safety of GH replacement in relation to the prostate in this patient group.

The long-term longitudinal course of oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder in ADHD boys: findings from a controlled 10-year prospective longitudinal follow-up study

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 1027-1036 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Biederman ◽  
C. R. Petty ◽  
C. Dolan ◽  
S. Hughes ◽  
E. Mick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Conduct Disorder ◽  
Oppositional Defiant Disorder ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Survival Function ◽  
Oppositional Defiant ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

BackgroundA better understanding of the long-term scope and impact of the co-morbidity with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) youth has important clinical and public health implications.MethodSubjects were assessed blindly at baseline (mean age=10.7 years), 1-year (mean age=11.9 years), 4-year (mean age=14.7 years) and 10-year follow-up (mean age=21.7 years). The subjects' lifetime diagnostic status of ADHD, ODD and CD by the 4-year follow-up were used to define four groups (Controls, ADHD, ADHD plus ODD, and ADHD plus ODD and CD). Diagnostic outcomes at the 10-year follow-up were considered positive if full criteria were met any time after the 4-year assessment (interval diagnosis). Outcomes were examined using a Kaplan–Meier survival function (persistence of ODD), logistic regression (for binary outcomes) and negative binomial regression (for count outcomes) controlling for age.ResultsODD persisted in a substantial minority of subjects at the 10-year follow-up. Independent of co-morbid CD, ODD was associated with major depression in the interval between the 4-year and the 10-year follow-up. Although ODD significantly increased the risk for CD and antisocial personality disorder, CD conferred a much larger risk for these outcomes. Furthermore, only CD was associated with significantly increased risk for psychoactive substance use disorders, smoking, and bipolar disorder.ConclusionsThese longitudinal findings support and extend previously reported findings from this sample at the 4-year follow-up indicating that ODD and CD follow a divergent course. They also support previous findings that ODD heralds a compromised outcome for ADHD youth grown up independently of the co-morbidity with CD.

scholarly journals “Data makes the story come to life.” Understanding the ethical and legal implications of Big Data research involving ethnic minority healthcare workers: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward S. Dove ◽  
Ruby Reed-Berendt ◽  
Manish Pareek
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Significant Implication ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Uk

The aim of UK-REACH (“The United Kingdom Research study into Ethnicity And COVID-19 outcomes in Healthcare workers”) is to understand if, how, and why healthcare workers (HCWs) in the UK from ethnic minority groups are at increased risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19. In this article, we present findings from Work Package 3, the ethico-legal stream, which undertook qualitative research seeking to understand and address legal, ethical, and social acceptability issues around data protection, privacy, and information governance associated with the linkage of HCWs’ registration data and healthcare data. We interviewed 22 key opinion leaders in healthcare and health research from across the UK in two-to-one semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were manually coded using qualitative thematic analysis. Participants told us that a significant implication across all stages of Big Data research in public health are drivers of mistrust – of the research itself, research staff and funders, and broader concerns of mistrust within participant communities, particularly in the context of COVID-19 and those situated in more marginalised community settings. However, despite the challenges, participants also identified ways in which legally compliant and ethically informed approaches to research can be crafted to mitigate or overcome mistrust and establish confidence in Big Data public health research. Overall, our research indicates that a “Big Data Ethics by Design” approach can help assure 1) that meaningful engagement is taking place and that extant challenges are addressed, and 2) that any new challenges or hitherto unknown unknowns can be rapidly and properly considered to ensure potential (but material) harms are identified and minimised where necessary. Our findings indicate such an approach, in turn, will help drive better scientific breakthroughs that translate into medical innovations and effective public health interventions, which benefit the publics studied.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document