Overview
Aims
The Airwave Health Monitoring Study is an occupational cohort study which was established to evaluate the possible health risks associated with use of Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), a digital communication system used by the police force. Due to the collection of extensive phenotypic data, biological samples, and the availability of linked health data, the study has been broadened to investigate more generally the health and social outcomes of working in the police force in Great Britain.
Institution
Imperial College London
Geographic coverage - Nations
England, Scotland, Wales
Geographic coverage - Regions
Nationwide
Start date
2004
Catalogue record last updated
10/04/2024
Sample
Sample type
Occupational cohort
Sample details
Employees of all 54 police forces as well as police-related agencies within Great Britain were invited to participate. Since the commencement of the study, a total of 28 forces have agreed to participate. Participants completed enrolment questionnaires during the first phase of the study. The second phase of the study consisted of a health screening performed locally by trained nurses. Overall, 16% of participants completed only phase one, 58% completed only phase two, and 26% completed both phases. Additionally, 62.9% of the participants are men, and the average age at enrolment was 40.9 years for men and 38.5 years for women.
Sample size at recruitment
53,000
Sample size at most recent sweep
17,577 (2015 - Follow-up Clinic Questionnaire)
Sex
All
Age at recruitment
18+
Cohort year of birth
Varied
Data
Data access
Data request - see data access guidance
police-health.org.uk/applying-access-resource
Genetic data collected
Linkage to administrative data
Health data
Additional information
Website
police-health.org.uk
Related themes
Biomarkers,
Cognitive measures,
Diet and nutrition,
Socioeconomic status and deprivation,
Language and literacy,
Physical health assessment,
Digital technology and social media,
Victimisation and life events,
Reproductive health,
Work and employment,
Sleep problems
Summary
The Airwave Health Monitoring Study follows people in the police force who have used a digital communication system named Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA). The study aims to understand the possible health risks associated with the use of TETRA, by collecting biological samples and linking to routinely collected health data.
Key Papers
The Airwave Health Monitoring Study of police officers and staff in Great Britain: rationale, design and methods.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2014.07.025
Mental health measures timeline
Sweep name:
Cohort member age:
Data collection period:
Notes:
Physical health measures: