๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ
๐: ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
COVID-19 is a virus strain, first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, that has only spread in people since December 2019 and has now become a world pandemic.
The symptoms of COVID-19 are non-specific, but commonly presents with fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Some patients may have difficult breathing, aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention. No effective treatment has been recommended yet with patients provided with supportive care. However, there are several ongoing clinical trials that include both western and traditional medicines.
The disease spreads from an infected person to others through breathing in droplets from the nose or mouth during coughing or sneezing. Droplet contaminated surfaces including human body parts may also spread the disease when a person touches such surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth.
๐: ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฌ๐: What is the reason for doing this study?
This study will contribute to the refinement of case definitions and advance epidemiology of COVID-19. It will provide opportunity to validate the WHO criteria across different populations, status of pandemic and locations. This information will inform further research and public health messages and interventions.
๐: ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฌ: What will this study involve?
We would like to study the epidemiology of COVID-19 using an online Open Cohort approach on 5,000 respondents globally using an initial baseline data collection tool filled in once and then very short fortnightly questions filled. The form will be circulated through emails and available social media globally. It will also be available for download on the study website.
๐: ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
The study poses no more than minimal risks to the participants.There are also no direct benefits from this study but by taking part you may help us improve the case definitions and epidemiology of COVID-19.
๐: ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
It will not cost you any money to take part in this study neither you will not be paid for participation.
๐
: ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ: Who will have access to information about me in this research?
All data is anonymised and stored in password protected computers. No unauthorised personnel will be allowed to view your data apart from the study team and regulatory authorities.
๐: ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: Who has allowed this research to take place?
This research study has been approved by the Mbale Regional Referral Hospital Research and Ethics Committee (MRRH-REC) and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (UNCST). ย
๐: ๐
๐ฎ๐ซ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ: What if I have any questions?
You may ask questions at any time during the study through contacting the principal investigator of the study: ย
Professor Peter Olupot-Olupot; MBCHB, MPH, PHD, FUNAS; Mbale Clinical Research Institute, P.O Box 1966, Mbale.
polupotolupot@yahoo.com; Mobile: + 256 (0)772-457-217/ Tel: (0)392910171/ (0)352280584/ (0)45 4433193 Fax: +256 45 4435894
If you want to ask someone independent about this research please contact:
The Mbale Regional Referral Hospital Research & Ethics Committee (MRRH-REC), Mr. Francis Okello, P.O. Box 921, Mbale, Uganda. Telephone +256 (0)7820-733-475,
mrrhrec@gmail.comย .