Vitamin D Ambulance Wellbeing Study (VITALS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Vitamin D capillary blood assessments in ambulance staff to improve health and wellbeing: a mixed-methods study
IRAS ID
316958
Contact name
Larissa Prothero
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 31 days
Research summary
Healthcare professions, shift and indoor-working are associated with higher risk of vitamin D deficiency, however, the impact of this condition on the ambulance workforce is limited. The impact of vitamin D deficiency can be significant, affecting both physical and mental health. One UK ambulance service has recently undertaken a survey-based evaluation of staff awareness of vitamin D and risk of deficiency. Staff appeared to be at risk of deficiency irrespective of their service role.
The main aims of the Vitamin D Ambulance Wellbeing Study (VITALS) are to evidence the incidence and impact of vitamin D deficiency in shift and indoor-workers across one UK ambulance service workforce and suggest possible vitamin D-related interventions to enhance wellbeing. The findings will advise further occupation-related vitamin D research in this and other workplace settings.
The VITALS study is a mixed-methods study consisting of a) finger-prick blood testing involving 400 consenting ambulance staff to identify those with or at risk of vitamin D deficiency and b) 1 hour research interviews involving sixteen VITALS participants with or at risk of deficiency. Work, health and wellbeing experiences will be explored in depth, focussing on awareness, impacts of vitamin D deficiency, and potential benefits of supportive occupational interventions.
This study will determine the incidence and impact of vitamin D deficiency amongst ambulance staff and provide suggestions for interventions and resources to tackle ambulance staff vitamin D deficiency. The findings will be shared widely via emergency care conferences, publications, and organisations. In doing so, VITALS will raise awareness of occupational vitamin D deficiency, particularly for the ambulance setting but also for other healthcare, shift and indoor-workers, in the UK and more widely. Furthermore, it will guide the direction of future occupation-based vitamin D deficiency-related research.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/WM/0241
Date of REC Opinion
2 Nov 2022
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion