Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation

Introduction Rugby football (Union and League) provides physical activity (PA) with related physical and mental health benefits. However, as a collision sport, rugby research and media coverage predominantly focus on injuries in elite players while the overall impact on health and well-being remains...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Roger Hawkes, Andrew Murray, Nigel K Arden, Nirmala Kanthi Panagodage Perera, Stephanie R Filbay, Steffan A Griffin, Maja R Radojčić, Lucy Gates
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-01-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/1/e041037.full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846164189549166592
author Roger Hawkes
Andrew Murray
Nigel K Arden
Nirmala Kanthi Panagodage Perera
Stephanie R Filbay
Steffan A Griffin
Maja R Radojčić
Lucy Gates
author_facet Roger Hawkes
Andrew Murray
Nigel K Arden
Nirmala Kanthi Panagodage Perera
Stephanie R Filbay
Steffan A Griffin
Maja R Radojčić
Lucy Gates
author_sort Roger Hawkes
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Rugby football (Union and League) provides physical activity (PA) with related physical and mental health benefits. However, as a collision sport, rugby research and media coverage predominantly focus on injuries in elite players while the overall impact on health and well-being remains unclear. This study aims to provide a greater understanding of the risks and benefits of rugby participation in a diverse sample of men and women, current and former rugby Union and League players from recreational to the elite level of play. We will explore: (1) joint-specific injuries and concussion; (2) joint pain and osteoarthritis (OA); (3) medical and mental health conditions; (4) PA and sedentary behaviour and (5) well-being (quality of life, flourishing and resilience).Methods and analysis The Rugby Health and Well-being Study is designed in two phases: (1) a UK-wide cross-sectional survey and (2) cross-validation using health register data from Scotland. Participants will be at least 16 years old, current or former rugby players who have played rugby for at least one season. We will report standardised, level of play-, sex- and age-stratified prevalence of joint injury, concussion, medical conditions and PA. We will describe injury/concussion prevention expectations and protective equipment use. Rugby-related factors associated with injury, pain, OA, PA, health and well-being will be explored in regression models. We will compare joint pain intensity and duration, elements of pain perception and well-being between recreational and elite players and further investigate these associations in regression models while controlling for confounding variables. In the second phase, we will validate self-reported with health register data, and provide further information on healthcare use.Ethics and dissemination The Yorkshire and the Humber—Leeds East Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 19/HY/0377) has approved this study (IRAS project ID 269424). The results will be disseminated through scientific publications, conferences and social media.
format Article
id doaj-art-7d4465e8300c4f83929740d13b0f9c74
institution Kabale University
issn 2044-6055
language English
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher BMJ Publishing Group
record_format Article
series BMJ Open
spelling doaj-art-7d4465e8300c4f83929740d13b0f9c742024-11-18T12:50:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552021-01-0111110.1136/bmjopen-2020-041037Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validationRoger Hawkes0Andrew Murray1Nigel K Arden2Nirmala Kanthi Panagodage Perera3Stephanie R Filbay4Steffan A Griffin5Maja R Radojčić6Lucy Gates7British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine, Doncaster, UKEuropean Tour Health and Performance Institute, Virginia Water, UKNuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKNuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKNuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKRugby Football Union, Twickenham, London, UKNuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKNuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKIntroduction Rugby football (Union and League) provides physical activity (PA) with related physical and mental health benefits. However, as a collision sport, rugby research and media coverage predominantly focus on injuries in elite players while the overall impact on health and well-being remains unclear. This study aims to provide a greater understanding of the risks and benefits of rugby participation in a diverse sample of men and women, current and former rugby Union and League players from recreational to the elite level of play. We will explore: (1) joint-specific injuries and concussion; (2) joint pain and osteoarthritis (OA); (3) medical and mental health conditions; (4) PA and sedentary behaviour and (5) well-being (quality of life, flourishing and resilience).Methods and analysis The Rugby Health and Well-being Study is designed in two phases: (1) a UK-wide cross-sectional survey and (2) cross-validation using health register data from Scotland. Participants will be at least 16 years old, current or former rugby players who have played rugby for at least one season. We will report standardised, level of play-, sex- and age-stratified prevalence of joint injury, concussion, medical conditions and PA. We will describe injury/concussion prevention expectations and protective equipment use. Rugby-related factors associated with injury, pain, OA, PA, health and well-being will be explored in regression models. We will compare joint pain intensity and duration, elements of pain perception and well-being between recreational and elite players and further investigate these associations in regression models while controlling for confounding variables. In the second phase, we will validate self-reported with health register data, and provide further information on healthcare use.Ethics and dissemination The Yorkshire and the Humber—Leeds East Research Ethics Committee (REC reference: 19/HY/0377) has approved this study (IRAS project ID 269424). The results will be disseminated through scientific publications, conferences and social media.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/1/e041037.full
spellingShingle Roger Hawkes
Andrew Murray
Nigel K Arden
Nirmala Kanthi Panagodage Perera
Stephanie R Filbay
Steffan A Griffin
Maja R Radojčić
Lucy Gates
Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation
BMJ Open
title Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation
title_full Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation
title_fullStr Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation
title_full_unstemmed Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation
title_short Rugby Health and Well-Being Study: protocol for a UK-wide survey with health data cross-validation
title_sort rugby health and well being study protocol for a uk wide survey with health data cross validation
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/1/e041037.full
work_keys_str_mv AT rogerhawkes rugbyhealthandwellbeingstudyprotocolforaukwidesurveywithhealthdatacrossvalidation
AT andrewmurray rugbyhealthandwellbeingstudyprotocolforaukwidesurveywithhealthdatacrossvalidation
AT nigelkarden rugbyhealthandwellbeingstudyprotocolforaukwidesurveywithhealthdatacrossvalidation
AT nirmalakanthipanagodageperera rugbyhealthandwellbeingstudyprotocolforaukwidesurveywithhealthdatacrossvalidation
AT stephanierfilbay rugbyhealthandwellbeingstudyprotocolforaukwidesurveywithhealthdatacrossvalidation
AT steffanagriffin rugbyhealthandwellbeingstudyprotocolforaukwidesurveywithhealthdatacrossvalidation
AT majarradojcic rugbyhealthandwellbeingstudyprotocolforaukwidesurveywithhealthdatacrossvalidation
AT lucygates rugbyhealthandwellbeingstudyprotocolforaukwidesurveywithhealthdatacrossvalidation