Welcome to the VIEW study! The VIEW (Viruses & Infections in Essential Workers) project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and is ran by the Health Policy Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Join the VIEW study today and help us, help the community by learning more about how viruses are spread to our family and friends.
About the Study

Welcome to the VIEW study! VIEW stands for Viruses & Infections in Essential Workers.

The goal of this project is to understand how COVID and other respiratory viruses affect community members who work outside their homes.

Our team recognizes the sacrifice that many of the people in our community made and continue to make to keep our cities running. The findings of this study can be used to create better recommendations to help keep workers and their families safe.

We are inviting individuals, area community organizations, employers, the faith community and other groups to work with us and help us learn how viruses affect our community.

This project is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and is run by Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Who can join?

Adults aged 18 or older who work outside their homes or live with someone who works outside their homes, and live within 100 miles of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.

We want to learn about experiences from adults working in different areas including:

  • Transportation,
  • Manufacturing,
  • Education/Child Care,
  • Hospitality,
  • Service Industry,
  • Construction,
  • And more!

Healthcare providers will not be included in this project as they are already participating in other similar initiatives.

Joining the VIEW study is voluntary. Everyone who joins the study will receive compensation for their time and effort in participating.

If you live with others who work outside their home, they might also be able to join the study.

If you would like to learn more about the VIEW project you can reach out today at (615) 875-1385 or or viewstudy@vumc.org

What will I be asked to do?

To join the study, we will explain the details of the study and answer all questions that you may have. If you agree to participate in the study, you will be asked to answer questions to help the study team understand more about who is joining the study. After that, you will be sent a kit with materials in the mail. You will be asked to do one self-swab and self-collect an optional small blood sample by doing a finger prick with the materials we send.

You will then be asked to complete brief weekly tasks (an online survey and a self-collected swab) that you can do from the comfort of your own home at no cost to you. These weekly activities will take less than 10 minutes of your time.

At 3-months, you will be asked to complete a survey online or on the phone.

At 6-months, you will be asked to complete a survey online or on the phone and mail in a blood sample.

Click here to learn more.

Speak to a study member

We would be happy to answer any questions that you might have! You can talk to one of our team members by calling (615) 875-1385 or by sending an email Viewstudy@vumc.org.

 

You can learn more about how to do your own self-swab or finger prick at home by watching a quick video. If you still need help, please reach out to a study team member by calling (615) 875-1385 or sending an email to Viewstudy@vumc.org

 

Compensation

After joining the study, you will have several opportunities to receive compensation. All study supplies will be mailed to your home including postage paid mailers to return to the study team. You will collect your own samples and return them in the mail at no cost to you.

It should take less than 15 minutes per week to complete the tasks.

  1. Complete enrollment survey and mail in 1st nasal swab- $30
  2. Mail in blood sample- $30
  3. Send in nasal swab and complete brief online survey- $20 every week
  4. Complete survey every 3-months online or on the phone- $50
  5. Complete survey every 6- months online or on the phone and mail in an optional
    blood sample- $100

All compensation will be provided via an electronic gift card.