...to wish I could drop out of these Covid studies?

[saraclara]

I won't of course, because guilt. But today I've got a really long and boring questionnaire to do for one of them, and another finger prick testing antibody test drop through the letterbox, AND another appointment half an hour away for a full blood test (no travelling expenses offered).

Initially I thought it was an interesting and public-spirited thing to do, but now I'm running out of steam. Does anyone else have research study fatigue?

The Zoe app is fine. Just five taps on my phone daily. Virus Check is needier and inflicts these finger-prick tests on me, which result in my dining table looking like a murder scene, and bruised fingers because my blood just doesn't want to flow. Plus the journeys to have the venous tests.

But the RAMP 'mental health in Covid times' study wins the prize for the dreariest, longest, and most difficult to complete questionnaire, and it arrives every couple of weeks. Completing it is bad for my mental health I reckon.

So any of you doing these or other studies? What do they ask of you, and are you getting bored now?

I am only doing the Zoë App and am starting to resent it, so you should polish your halo and feel really good about yourself! Can you try to see it as the equivalent as homework, and just get through it that way? Have you got any end date for the study? Can you enquire about that? It might at least get an acknowledgement that what you are doing is incredibly helpful, at least, it should do.

I've just signed up for this, and didn't know I'll be expected to travel half an hour to have a full blood test. I really can't see me managing that.

Is that your nearest hospital or a study centre??

@FromHereToModernity

I've just signed up for this, and didn't know I'll be expected to travel half an hour to have a full blood test. I really can't see me managing that.

Is that your nearest hospital or a study centre??

It's at a health clinic near to the hospital. I'm just unlucky that it's half an hour away though, as I live rurally.

I don't think you HAVE to do it. I've been part of the VirusWatch since it started, and before antibody tests had got going, and there are different parts to the study. Obviously the more you take part in the better, but there's no compulsion. I don't see how there coould be.

Ah. Just saw that I called it Virus Check in the OP. Brain fart. VirusWatch.

Just think by the end of today - you'll be the other side of this and you cna rightly feel very pleased with yourself!

I've done a fiar few longitudinal studies... I've started out with enthusiasm.. But some of the questionnaires are ridiculously long... (one I did weekly for 6 weeks... Each took over an hour...)....

You don't have to continue...no usual study is compulsory and you can drop out without giving a reason.

It’s ironic that taking part in the study is adversely affecting your mental health! Just looked at their Instagram, and it seems to be about improving mental health. I’d drop out if I were you. What are they doing with the data?

I expect they expect people to drop out and have accounted for that in the numbers they sign ul

I've only done the ZOE app, but then that also resulted in two covid tests for them. I skipped the third as I reported my sinus headache and they wanted another test when I knew what it was.

Second jab yesterday, still doing it anyway. Can't say I'd be wanting to do regular blood test or fill in long surveys though.

I did a study about mental health in cancer patients when I was having chemo. I was given it to fill in while I was getting the chemo and it started out taking an hour but by the last session I had lost so much concentration the questionnaire took nearly the whole of one infusion. This did not make me happy!
I laughed in recognition at the questionnaire about mental health harming your mental health
Tip for the finger prick tests is to drink a litre of water an hour before and run your hand under the hot water tap/on a hot water bottle for a while before. Should help blood flow.