LOngitudinal study of behaviours, risk factors, and effects of COVID-19 in the Community (LOCC): a large, rapid online observational study

Aim:

Information on risk or protective factors like age, health conditions, behaviours (handwashing, social distancing, physical activity) and use of medicines and other treatments, and how these are associated with people becoming unwell or being admitted to hospital with symptoms of COVID- 19, can help inform how best to reduce risks and treat symptoms.

Methods:

We will rapidly set up online questionnaires to collect information from people in the community who do and do not have symptoms suggestive of COVID-19. We will recruit people using social media and other advertising and get consent online. We will also give people the option to consent to link the information they submit online to medical and other records. Information we are asking for includes health conditions, behaviours (handwashing, physical activity, etc), distress/anxiety/depression, use of medications, other risk factors and consultations with healthcare professionals. We will send email and text messages asking people to respond to weekly questions, and will try and find out whether they develop symptoms, are admitted to hospital, or die from COVID-19.

Impact:

We will produce rapid analyses which will help policy makers, clinicians and the public make more informed decisions about how best to manage the ongoing pandemic clinically, psychologically and socially.

Patient and public involvement (PPI):

Our team includes experienced clinicians, researchers, and members of the public, and we are working with a web design company who have already developed similar online tools. We will involve PPI in designing the questionnaire, informing advertising and dissemination.

Study team: Nick Francis (PI), Merlin Willcox, Paul Little, Alastair Hay, Michael Moore, Mark Lown, Beth Stuart, Jennifer Bostock, Judy Chatwin, Adam Geraghty, Lucy Yardley.

Amount awarded: £99,562