COVID-19: surveys and research

Due to the need to better understand the impact of COVID-19, many organisations are currently conducting research.  

Find out more about our own research efforts, as well as research conducted by other organisations.  

Learning from our COVID-19 member surveys 

Every two weeks, we are running our own member survey, which provides our members with the opportunity to share their experiences of many aspects relating to the COVID-19 response locally, including on issues such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), testing and workforce.

The Coronerve surveillance survey  

Please support The Surveillance Study of COVID19-associated Neurological and Psychiatric Conditions. The RCPsych is one of several organisations supporting a programme run by Benedict Michael (NIHR Health Protection Research Unit for Emerging and Zoonotic Infection, University of Liverpool). The programme seeks cases of neurological and psychiatric syndromes associated with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. 

Visit the Coronerve survey

ICOPE Study 

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London, University of Essex, University of Oxford and University of Leicester are conducting a short survey-based study of health and care workers to explore their perceptions of safety and experiences of COVID management in their work. The study examines the influence of gender, ethnicity, and professional role in shaping their perceptions of safety and experience of COVID-19 management in their workplaces.

Social inequalities inform the distribution of risks and burden of COVID-19 infections and deaths. Yet, to date no systematic assessment has been conducted to understand how these factors shape workers’ experiences of COVID management and protection measures in their workplaces. 

The survey is public, open to all health and care staff (front line, allied, support staff) and is an opportunity for them to give voice to concerns that perhaps they’ve not been able to in the crisis. The survey is short and will not take more than 10 minutes.

Visit the ICOPE study

COPEwithCOVID

The COPEwithCOVID project is a global study which will look at the impact COVID-19 will have on mental health. It will explore the effect COVID-19 has had on the mental health of the general population and certain professional groups, and will look the the coping strategies people have used to help them through the pandemic.

Anyone over the age of 18 can take part. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete, and a smaller number of participants will also take part in an interview with a member of the research team to provide more detailed information about their experience of COVID-19.

Visit the COPEwithCOVID project

UCL research on the psychological and social effects of Covid-19 in the UK

University College London is running a study into the psychological and social effects of Covid-19 in the UK. The results are being used to understand the effects of the virus and social distancing measures on mental health and loneliness in the UK and to inform government advice and decisions.

They are looking for adults in UK who are happy to take part and spread the word about the study. Participation involves answering a 10 minute online survey now, and then answering a shorter follow-up survey once a week whilst social isolation measures are in place.

Visit the UCL COVID-19 social study

The COVIDA study

The COVIDA research team came together as we recognised the huge potential impact of the COVID outbreak on health workers’ mental health. They decided to urgently develop a large-scale online survey that would allow clear and accurate measurement of the impact on mental health – which factors were associated with a worse or resilience response, and importantly how this impact on mental health changes over time as the COVID crisis evolves.

The COVIDA study has several aims. Firstly, to clearly characterise the problem. The survey contains several validated scales of mental health – stress, anxiety, mood, and trauma, but also comprehensive coverage of personal stressors and experiences, questions about PPE availability, personal safety and risk, and questions allowing quantification of change form pre to post COVID and a range of other important themes. However, it also asks about positive aspects – resilience, coping, feeling more valued, and improved team work etc. Additionally, it also collects answers to critical issues such as those coming to the fore around BAME or being ‘at risk’, and finally also provides open text fields for personalised responses and qualitative analysis.

Visit the COVIDA study