When most people think of health and care research they think about testing new drugs or vaccines.
But not all research involves taking new medications or receiving a jab. It can involve all sorts of things - from completing a simple survey from the comfort of your home to testing the latest technologies like Virtual Reality (VR).
Here’s a look at 4 studies you may not think are research.
1. Dive into nature: Can outdoor swimming boost your mood?
Could swimming in lakes, rivers, or outdoor pools help lift low mood or depression? The OUTSIDE2 study, run by the NHS and University of Portsmouth, is exploring this idea.
People taking part join eight guided swimming sessions in natural places across England. Some join the swimming group, while others don’t swim but still fill out surveys about their mood. This way, researchers can compare and see if swimming really helps.
Early findings suggest that swimming outside might improve mood and make people feel more connected to nature and others.
2. Get active in small bites with Snacktivity!
Loughborough University has a cool idea called Snacktivity to help people be more active. Instead of doing long workouts, Snacktivity is all about little bursts of activity called ‘activity snacks’ that last just 2 to 5 minutes.
These can be simple things like walking while talking on the phone, taking the stairs, or doing calf raises while waiting for your tea to brew. It’s an easy way to fit more movement into your day!
There’s even a SnackApp that works with Fitbits to remind you to move and track your progress. The study will see if this makes it easier for people to reach the recommended 150 minutes of activity per week.
3. Scan, shop, save lives: Research hiding in your receipts!
What if your Boots or Tesco shopping could help doctors find cancer earlier? That’s what the CLOCS-2 study is all about!
Before people go to the doctor, they might buy things like stomach medicine or pain relief to help with early symptoms of cancers like bowel, ovarian, or pancreatic. CLOCS-2 looks at shopping patterns to spot clues that could help find cancer sooner.
With permission, researchers use loyalty card information to see what people have bought. They also ask simple health questions. It’s safe and private.
If someone over 18 takes part, their shopping habits could help scientists learn new ways to catch cancer early, and even save lives!
Fun Fact: Did you know the average person in the UK visits a supermarket over 200 times a year? That’s a lot of chances to spot health clues just by looking at shopping habits!
4. Putting the R into VR with research
What if playing video games could actually help you hear better? That’s what the BEARS study is hoping to do for children with cochlear implants.
Cochlear implants help people with serious hearing loss, but it can still be hard to tell where sounds are coming from, especially when it’s noisy.
The BEARS study uses Virtual Reality (VR) games that teaches children to use both ears to find sounds. The games are fun and involve tasks like running a café or aiming at targets, helping children practice their listening skills.
More than 160 children across the UK are trying this new therapy to see if it helps them hear more clearly and feel more confident in noisy places.
Fun Fact: Did you know your brain can actually learn to locate sounds better with practice? That’s why playing these VR games could help children improve their hearing skills!
How you can get involved with research
Sign up to Be Part of Research to be contacted about a range of health and care research. Or check out our full list of studies to see if one is right for you.
And if taking part in a study doesn’t feel right at the moment there are other ways to get involved in research.
