We received an invitation from the Australasian College of Sports and Exercise Medicine for our doctors to complete an online survey on physical activity and stress levels during the Covid19 lockdown. Please see the letter below, which includes the link to the online survey.
Dear Doctor,
On the 26th of March, New Zealand moved into alert level 4 lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Whilst in Australia, currently stage 3 restrictions are in place which started in the state of Victoria on the 30th March 2020. We recognise that this unprecedented situation may have altered physical activity levels for most doctors due to closure of normal recreational facilities in New Zealand and encouragement to maintain social distancing in Australia. We also realise that mental health issues are more represented amongst doctors compared the general population. Therefore, we aim to measure the physical activity and stress levels of medical doctors in New Zealand and Australia during the lockdown and how these levels change as the lockdown is removed. The results of this study will hopefully allow better support structures to be implemented for doctors’ physical and mental well-being via our professional colleges.
Your participation in this project will involve you completing this online survey on your physical activity and stress levels today and, if you wish, again when the lockdown comes to a final closure. The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.
The results of the project may be presented in conferences and published in journal articles. Only aggregated data will be presented in any publications and no information will be reported in a way that might identify individuals. You may be assured of your anonymity in this investigation: the identity of any participant will not be made public, or made known to any person other than the researchers, or the Lincoln University Human Ethics Committee. The latter may occur only in the event of an audit. To ensure anonymity, individual survey data will be seen only by the researchers, and will be stored on a password protected device at Lincoln University.
Your participation in this research is voluntary and you may decline to answer any or all questions. You may withdraw from the project, including withdrawing any information you have provided at any point, up to 31st May, 2021 by contacting any of the researchers listed below.
Thank you kindly for considering participating in this research.
Please click on the link below to complete the survey if you are a medical doctor in Australia or New Zealand. Feel free to share this email with your colleagues.
https://lincoln.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3JElealZFQmJxSl
Researchers:
Dr. Mike Hamlin, Faculty of Environment society and Design,
Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
Ph: +64 3-423-0489
Dr. Catherine Elliot, Faculty of Environment society and Design,
Department of Tourism, Sport and Society, Lincoln University, Christchurch, New Zealand
Catherine.Elliot@lincoln.ac.nz
Ph: +64 3-423-0493
Dr. Yaso Kathiravel, SportsMed Bealey Ave, Christchurch, New Zealand
Ph: +64 021-107-3882
Dr. Sachin Khullar, Coriobay Health Group, Geelong, Australia
Ph: +61 421229803
Dr. Mairin Taylor, School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Mairin.taylor@canterbury.ac.nz
Ph: +64 33690490 (Extn 90490)
Dr. Jane Fitzpatrick, Centre for Health and Exercise Sports Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia.
jane.fitzpatrick@unimelb.edu.au
Ph: +61 408347843