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

Abstract

Introduction The 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 analysis A 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 dissemination. The 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 details. Trial ID: ISRCTN11811602

Ethnic differences in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy in United Kingdom healthcare workers: Results from the UK-REACH prospective nationwide cohort study

“…Here we present data from the baseline questionnaire of the UK-REACH prospective cohort study (administered online from 4 th December 2020 with interim data downloaded 19 th February 2021), and qualitative data from UK-REACH interviews and focus groups (undertaken from December 2020 to March 2021). Both studies took place in healthcare settings in all four nations of the UK with clinical and non-clinical HCWs from diverse ethnic backgrounds; see study protocols for methodological details [ 33 , 34 ].…”

“…Questionnaire design, sampling and baseline questionnaire measures are detailed in the study protocol [33] and data dictionary ( https://www.uk-reach.org/data-dictionary ).…”

“…We worked closely with a Professional Expert Panel of HCWs from a range of ethnic backgrounds, occupations, and genders, as well as with national and local organisations (see study protocols) [ 33 , 34 ].…”

“…We wish to acknowledge the Professional Expert Panel group and the Steering and Advisory Group (see the cohort study protocol [33] for details), and SERCO, as well as the following people for their support in setting up the study from the regulatory bodies: Kerrin Clapton and Andrew Ledgard (General Medical Council), Caroline Kenny (Nursing and Midwifery Council), David Teeman and Lisa Bainbridge (General Dental Council), My Phan and John Tse (General Pharmaceutical Council), Angharad Jones (General Optical Council), Katherine Timms and Charlotte Rogers (The Health and Care Professions Council) and Mark Neale (Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland).…”

Ethnicity and COVID-19 outcomes among healthcare workers in the UK: UK-REACH ethico-legal research, qualitative research on healthcare workers’ experiences and stakeholder engagement protocol

“…Work Package 2 will establish a national longitudinal cohort of ethnic minority (with White ethnic group as comparator) HCWs and ancillary staff to assess changes in their health outcomes, social circumstances and professional roles over the course of the pandemic. 22 In this article, we describe the doctrinal, qualitative and stakeholder engagement protocol covering Work Packages 3–5 (WP3–WP5) of the project, which will explore questions of ethics, law, risk perception and behaviours of HCWs in relation to COVID-19.…”