Many researchers have begun vital work to understand the impact of COVID-19 on all those affected by kidney disease. The results of these studies can be used to better understand how to get the right support in place for people with kidney disease during the outbreak and afterwards. It is possible to join many of these studies from home.
We have listed details of these and other studies in which you may be interested in participating. We will add to this as we hear of new research opportunities. The projects and study teams are independent of Kidney Care UK and it is best to contact the teams directly for more information about each study. All studies have received independent ethical approval.
Currently available opportunities
COVIDENCE-UK study
Aim of the study
Currently, the risk factors, adverse outcomes, impacts on mental and economic wellbeing and the natural history of COVID-19 in the UK population are largely unknown. The COVIDENCE UK Study will collect data from volunteers around the UK to answer scientific questions surrounding COVID-19.
Study type
Online questionnaire study
Who is able to participate?
You can take part if you are 16 or over and living in the UK.
Where is the study happening?
It is all done online from your own home
Open and closing dates of recruitment
The study will be ongoing for five years and you can sign up at anytime, although the earlier you sign-up the more valuable data can be collected.
How do I get involved?
You can sign up on the study website
Summary
The COVIDENCE UK national research study is designed to find out whether people with conditions such as kidney disease may be at increased risk of coronavirus disease. The researchers are looking to recruit a broad mix of people from all over the UK, including those who have NOT had coronavirus infection, and those who HAVE already had proven or suspected coronavirus infection.
The study will involve filling in an on-line questionnaire to collect information about your lifestyle, diet, longstanding conditions and prescribed treatment. Completion takes 30-60 minutes. After that, you will be contacted monthly via email to report possible symptoms of coronavirus disease. The data you provide will be linked to your medical records, to allow the study team to investigate whether coronavirus infection may affect long-term health.
Has this study received ethical approval?
This research has been ethically approved by Leicester South Research Ethics Committee (ref 20/EM/0117).
Lead investigators
Professor Adrian Martineau – Queen Mary University of London
Who is funding the study
Using ACT to help people live well on dialysis
Study name
Patient consultation over the adaptation of psycho-educational materials based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for patients receiving renal dialysis.
Aim of the study
The aim of the study is to adapt and tailor psycho-educational materials based on principles drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) specifically for patients on dialysis.
Study type
This is a qualitative study involving interviews to consult participants about how psycho-educational materials should be specifically adapted for dialysis patients.
Who is able to participate?
Inclusion Criteria: Age over 18 years, has received in-centre dialysis for at least 90 days in the last two years (including patients who are presently on home haemodialysis but have previously received in-centre haemodialysis), and able to converse in English.
Exclusion Criteria: Not able to take part in interview because of a medical condition, active infection or malignancy, unable or unwilling to give informed consent, and unable to take part in online data collection because of technical limitations.
Where is the study happening?
Participants will be able to take part from their own homes or any location suitable to them provided they have internet access and/or a phone signal. They will be emailed the materials and be given 24-72 hours to read them before being contacted again to arrange an interview at a time convenient to them. The interviews will be conducted by telephone or video conferencing and will be audio recorded.
Open and close dates of recruitment?
Open: 08/06/2020
Close: 03/08/2020
How do I get involved?
Information about the study and guidance on how to take part is available on the Derby University website
Summary
A team of researchers from the University of Derby and the University of Nottingham are looking for 20 people currently having regular haemodialysis for chronic kidney disease to take part in a research study aimed to develop specially designed materials to help people live better on hospital dialysis. The study will involve you reading some brief draft descriptions of fictional people on dialysis, and then taking part in a telephone interview where one of the researchers will speak with you about how you think the draft descriptions should be changed to make them more realistic portrayals of people’s lives on dialysis. The researcher will also ask you about how these and other materials should be presented to people on dialysis.
Lead investigators
- Professor James Elander – University of Derby
- Ms Romaana Kapadi – University of Derby
- Ms Carol Stalker – University of Derby
- Professor Kathryn Mitchell – University of Derby
- Dr Emma Coyne – Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (Nottingham City Hospital)
- Professor Maarten Taal – University of Nottingham (Royal Derby Hospital Campus)
- Professor Nick Selby – University of Nottingham (Royal Derby Hospital Campus)
Who is funding the study?
The British Renal Society and Kidney Care UK
More information
For further information or to discuss this research study please contact any of the following:
University of Derby
- Professor James Elander (Professor of Psychology/Chief Investigator) – J.Elander@derby.ac.uk
- Ms Romaana Kapadi (Research Assistant in Health Psychology) – r.kapadi@derby.ac.uk
- Ms Carol Stalker (Post Graduate Research Student) – c.stalker@derby.ac.uk
*Please note that the research team are currently working remotely and are therefore only available via email.
Experiences, concerns and support needs of people who are/were shielding due to Covid-19 and their family members
Aim of the study
Over 2 million people in the UK have been advised to ‘shield’ as they are particularly at risk from Covid-19. Shielding imposes many restrictions on daily life, for both people who are shielding and their family members. We want to understand what shielding has been like, how well supported people have felt and what their plans and concerns are as the ‘lockdowns’ across the UK begin to be lifted.
Study type?
Anonymous online survey (taking approx 20-30mins to complete), followed by the option of taking part in an interview or focus group
Who is able to participate?
People aged 18+ and living in the UK who are currently shielding, were shielding, but have stopped, or who were advised to shield, but decided not to.
Family members of any of the above. Family members must themselves be aged 18+, but the shielded person can be under 18 years old.
Where is the study happening?
In all four countries of the UK. Only people currently living in the UK can take part.
Open and close dates of recruitment?
Open: 7 June 2020
Close: 12 July 2020
How do I get involved?
Summary
Background: Some 2.25 million people in the UK have been identified as ‘extremely vulnerable’ to Covid-19 and therefore advised to ‘shield’. ‘Shielding’ involves very stringent social isolation and home hygiene measures, over a prolonged period (at least 12 weeks), affecting the lives and well-being of ‘shielded’ individuals and their families.
Aim: To understand experiences, concerns and support needs of individuals advised to shield and their family members
Design: We will use ‘sequential explanatory mixed methods’, which involves a quantitative phase (online survey), followed by a qualitative phase (interviews and focus groups) to provide greater insight into survey results, with results then combined.
Methods: We will conduct online questionnaire surveys with people (aged 18 years or older) who have been advised to shield and their family members. This includes people who are currently shielding; were shielding, but have stopped (fully or partially) or who were advised to shield, but decided not to.
We will then conduct, online or by telephone, at least 4-6 focus groups (each 8-12 members) and at least 20 interviews with selected survey participants.
Analysis: We will analyse survey responses overall and in sub-groups (eg age, gender, condition, ethnicity). We will compare shielded individuals' and family members' responses. Choice of statistical tests will be guided by our team statistician. For focus group and interview data, we will use a well-recognised analysis approach called 'Framework Analysis' to identify main themes and undertake comparisons (shielded person/family, condition, etc). We will then undertake ‘data synthesis’ (comparing and combining survey and interview/focus group data).
Outcomes: Insights into daily living experiences and personal impacts of ‘shielding’. Guidance to inform current/future 'shielding' policy and practice for healthcare charities, clinicians and policy-makers re: usefulness and timeliness of information and support; daily living and healthcare service usage challenges; unmet support needs and 'exit strategy' plans.
Lead investigators
Ann Caress, Professor of Health Services Research, University of Huddersfield
On behalf of a large team involving 15 UK charities, a local authority, an independent social care consultant, three English NHS Trusts and three UK universities
Who is funding the study?
Not funded as yet – application made to UKRI Covid-19 Rolling Call - decision awaited. Able to proceed without funding if necessary due to provision of ‘in kind support by University of Huddersfield and the Christie NHSFT
Other research opportunities
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) ‘Be part of research’ website lists COVID-19 research opportunities it is funding.
Oxford University is running a large study of potential treatments for COVID-19, called the RECOVERY trial. It is open to kidney patients with COVID-19.
The Join Zoe COVID Symptom Study asks people to report on their health on a daily basis via a smartphone app. This will allow the researchers to track any symptoms of COVID-19 that people are experiencing and understand what some of the early symptoms could be.
PROTECT, an existing long-term online study looking at ageing, has opened a new arm to study the impact of COVID-19 isolation on the physical and mental health of people aged over 50, and find new ways to support them.
Genomics England is working with the NHS and people who have had COVID-19 to understand whether there are genetic factors that mean that some people experience severe symptoms whilst others experience only mild symptoms.