Sickness absence in NHS staff during the time of COVID-19
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN36352994 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN36352994 |
| IRAS number | 284146 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | IRAS 284146 |
- Submission date
- 04/08/2020
- Registration date
- 05/08/2020
- Last edited
- 01/09/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Infections and Infestations
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 March 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.
A particular concern when such outbreaks occur is the risk to healthcare staff. National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in England collect data on sickness absence in an electronic staff record (ESR), which since early in the COVID-19 epidemic has used a code specifically for absence because of symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. The ESR also holds information on each staff member’s sex, date of birth, ethnicity, occupation and department, as well as on absence for other reasons; and, more recently, the option to add the results of any antigen or antibody test results.
Who can participate?
NHS staff ESRs will be used to provide the data for this study.
What does the study involve?
Using routinely collected data from the period 2019 - 2020, we will explore the risk of sickness absence ascribed to suspected Covid-19 according to sex, age, ethnicity, occupation and department and in relation to available antigen/antibody test results.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
None
Where is the study run from?
Imperial College, London (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
August 2020 to March 2021
Who is funding the study?
The COLT Foundation (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Prof. Paul Cullinan, p.cullinan@imperial.ac.uk
Contact information
Scientific
1b Manresa Road
London
SW3 6LR
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0002-9314-6468 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)2075947989 |
| p.cullinan@imperial.ac.uk |
Study information
| Study design | Multicentre observational retrospective cohort |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Observational |
| Secondary study design | Cohort study |
| Study setting(s) | Hospital |
| Study type | Other |
| Participant information sheet | No participant information sheet available |
| Scientific title | Occupational risks of COVID-19 in NHS staff; an analysis of sickness absence by ethnicity, professional role, age, sex and antigen/antibody test results |
| Study hypothesis | 1. How have rates of sickness absence ascribed to suspected COVID-19 varied according to ethnicity, age, sex, and potential for occupational contact with SARS-CoV-2 as indicated by occupation and department? How are these related to available data on antigen/antibody test results? 2. How have rates of prolonged sickness absence ascribed to suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection varied according to ethnicity, age, sex, and potential for occupational contact with SARS-CoV-2 as indicated by occupation and department? 3. How have rates of sickness absence ascribed to mental illness and other causes unrelated to COVID-19, varied over the course of the epidemic as compared with 12 months earlier, and have changes differed by ethnicity, occupation and department? |
| Ethics approval(s) | Approved 03/08/2020, Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee (c/o Level 3, Block B, Whitefriars, Bristol Research Ethics Committee Centre, BS1 2NT, UK; +44 (0)207 104 8196; hampshirea.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref 20/SC/0282 |
| Condition | COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2 infection) |
| Intervention | National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in England collect data on sickness absence in an electronic staff record (ESR), which since early in the COVID-19 epidemic has used a code specifically for absence because of symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. The ESR also holds information on each staff member’s sex, date of birth, ethnicity, occupation and department, as well as on absence for other reasons; and, more recently, the option to append the results of any antigen or antibody test results. Using electronic staff records from all NHS Trusts in England from January 2019 to August 2020, the researchers will explore the risk of sickness absence ascribed to suspected COVID-19 according to sex, age, ethnicity, occupation and department and in relation to available antigen/antibody test results. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure | Number of staff recorded as having a sickness absence for COVID-19 measured using electronic staff records from all NHS Trusts in England from January 2019 to August 2020 |
| Secondary outcome measures | Number of staff recorded as having a sickness absence for mental ill-health measured using electronic staff records from all NHS Trusts in England from January 2019 to August 2020 |
| Overall study start date | 01/08/2020 |
| Overall study end date | 01/03/2021 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Health professional |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Sex | Both |
| Target number of participants | c. 800,000 |
| Total final enrolment | 959356 |
| Participant inclusion criteria | All NHS staff who were continuously employed at all NHS organisations in England from 1 January 2019 to the date when data abstraction begins. |
| Participant exclusion criteria | All NHS staff who were not continuously employed at an NHS organisation in England from 1 January 2019 to the date when data abstraction begins. In addition, agency staff, contractors, students. |
| Recruitment start date | 01/01/2019 |
| Recruitment end date | 01/08/2020 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- England
- United Kingdom
Study participating centre
London
SW3 6LR
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
University/education
Exhibition Road
London
SW7 2AZ
England
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 (0)20 7589 5111 |
|---|---|
| n.gardner@imperial.ac.uk | |
| Website | http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/ |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/041kmwe10 |
Funders
Funder type
Charity
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 01/04/2021 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal. |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not expected to be made available due to data protection. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol file | version v1.2 | 30/06/2020 | 07/08/2020 | No | No |
| Results article | 30/08/2021 | 01/09/2021 | Yes | No | |
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No |
Additional files
- ISRCTN36352994_PROOCOL_v1.2_30Jun2020.pdf
- uploaded 07/08/2020
Editorial Notes
01/09/2021: Publication reference added.
15/03/2021: The total final enrolment was added.
07/08/2020: Uploaded protocol (not peer reviewed) Version 1.2 30 June 2020.
05/08/2020: Trial’s existence confirmed by the NHS Health Research Authority.
