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Do people with symptoms of an infectious illness follow advice to stay at home? Evidence from a series of cross-sectional surveys about presenteeism in the UK.
Rubin, G James; Smith, Louise E; Amlot, Richard; Fear, Nicola T; Potts, Henry; Michie, Susan.
  • Rubin GJ; Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK Gideon.rubin@kcl.ac.uk.
  • Smith LE; Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
  • Amlot R; UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, London, UK.
  • Fear NT; ADMMH, King's College London, London, UK.
  • Potts H; Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK.
  • Michie S; Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, London, UK.
BMJ Open ; 12(5): e060511, 2022 05 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1932757
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the percentage of people in the UK with cough, fever or loss of taste or smell who have not had a positive COVID-19 test result who had been to work, to shops, socialised or provided care to a vulnerable person in the 10 days after developing symptoms. To investigate whether these rates differed according to the type of symptom, what the participant thought the cause of their symptoms was and whether they had taken a COVID-19 test.

DESIGN:

Four online cross-sectional surveys using non-probability quota sampling method (n=8547).

SETTING:

Data were collected across the UK from 20 September to 3 November 2021, via a market research company.

PARTICIPANTS:

Aged over 16 years living in the UK. PRIMARY OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Out-of-home activity.

RESULTS:

498 participants reported one or more symptoms and had not had a positive COVID-19 test result. Within that group, about half of employed participants had attended work while symptomatic (51.2%-56.3% depending on the symptom, 95% CIs 42.2% to 65.6%). Rates of other contact behaviours ranged from 31.4% (caring for a vulnerable person after developing a cough 95% CI 24.3% to 38.4%) to 61.5% (shopping for groceries or pharmacy after developing a cough 95% CI 54.1% to 68.9%). There were no differences according to type of symptom experienced or what the participant felt might be the cause. People who had taken a COVID-19 test were less likely to go out shopping for non-essentials than people who had not taken a test.

CONCLUSION:

Many people in the UK with symptoms of an infectious disease were not following government advice to stay at home if they believed they had an infectious illness. Reducing these rates may require a shift in our national attitude to the acceptability of people attending work with infectious illnesses.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Communicable Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2021-060511

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Communicable Diseases / COVID-19 Type of study: Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Humans Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: BMJ Open Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Bmjopen-2021-060511