COMPLETED: GOODNIGHT Covid-19 to care-home-based vulnerable individuals
Novel corona virus (COVID-19) is a virus that has spread quickly around the world. Elderly people with other health problems have a high death rate from the infection. There are no treatments for COVID-19 so prevention of infection is very important.
COVID-19 is thought to infect people via the nose and mouth. Current best practise to prevent infection focuses on good hand hygiene, the wearing of masks and by limiting social contact. However, elderly people in care homes have to come into contact with staff members who are looking after them.
Hypertonic saline nasal irrigation and gargling (HSNIG) has been shown to reduce the viral load of coronaviruses and has potential to reduce Covid-19 transmission in a community setting. The objective of this trial is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of care home staff adopting this technique.
This research has now been submitted for publication. If you would like to know more about this study please contact Dr Ryan Buchanan
Co-Chief investigators
Dr Thomas Daniels, Consultant Respiratory Physician, Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Southampton Dr Ryan Buchanan, Academic Clinical Lecturer, Primary Care, Population Science and Medical Education, University of Southampton
Partners: University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton CTU & NIHR ARC Wessex
Co-applicants
Professor Julie Parkes, Professor of Public Health, University of Southampton
Professor Helen Roberts, Professor of Medicine for Older People, University of Southampton
Emeritus Professor Jeremy Wyatt – University of Southampton
Dr Beth Stuart – Medical Statistician, Southampton Clinical Trials Unit
Dr Kinda Ibrahim - Senior Research Fellow, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Dr Andrew Cook – Public Health Consultant, Fellow of Health Technology Assessment, University of Southampton
See the training video for Care Home staff:
Publications