Study on the relationship between swimming water quality and health complaints among participants in swimming events

General information

More and more people are taking part in open-water swimming events, for example in canals or lakes. Water quality can vary: sometimes it is very good, and sometimes less so. We are therefore conducting research into the safety and health effects of these types of events. The study has been set up in collaboration with, among others, GGD Amsterdam, GGD Rotterdam, GGD Hollands Midden (Leiden), GGD Haaglanden and KWR Water Research Institute. The study is coordinated through the Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI) and is carried out by physicians and researchers from the organisations mentioned above. There is a good chance that you will not experience any health complaints after swimming. Even if you do not develop any complaints, your participation is important to this study, because we also use that information in our analysis. Your contribution therefore remains valuable even if you feel completely well after swimming.

Purpose

The purpose is to investigate the extent to which water quality affects possible health complaints among participants. We also investigate whether water-quality measurements can help us predict health risks more accurately. In addition, we are testing faster methods of measuring water quality. This may make it possible to determine more quickly and accurately whether an event is safe, helping to reduce health risks for swimmers. Events are already cancelled if the swimming water quality is considered too poor.

Participating

If you take part, you will receive an online questionnaire (Parts 1 and 2). You can complete it immediately after you have, if you wish, given your consent to participate in the study below. Completing it will take approximately 15 minutes.

In Parts 1 and 2 of the questionnaire, we will ask you about:

• Any health complaints before and after swimming;
• Your participation in the event;
• Your health and physical condition.

We will also ask about your age, sex, height and weight. In addition, we will ask several questions about swimming, whether people around you experienced health complaints, and a few other relevant questions. If you contacted your general practitioner (GP) because of complaints after swimming, we may, with your permission, contact your GP.

In addition to the questionnaire, we will test the water at various points along the swimming course at different times. We will test for bacteria and other possible pathogens.

If you do not want to take part or want to stop participating in the study

Participation in the study is entirely voluntary. You may decide to stop participating at any time during the study. You do not have to give a reason for stopping, but you should inform the researcher. Data that have already been anonymised and collected up to that point may still be used for the study.

More information about the study

Visit the website of TTKI Water Technology (in Dutch)

What do we do with your data?

If you take part in the study, you also consent to the collection, use and storage of your anonymised data. Because we will also study a number of other swimming events, the research data from those events and from the event in which you participate will be combined and compared.

Why are we collecting, using and storing your data?

We collect, use and store your data in order to answer the research questions. After the study, we intend to publish the results in a scientific journal.

Can you withdraw your consent for the use of your data?

You can withdraw your consent for the use of your data at any time. If you wish to do so, you can inform the principal investigator.

How do we protect your privacy?

To protect your privacy, you will be assigned a unique code (token). We will temporarily store this code together with your name and email address in a separate secure file. This is necessary at the beginning of the study so that, if needed, we can ask you additional questions and retrieve your data if you decide to stop participating in the study.

We do not store any other personal data. The link between your code and your personal data is stored in a secure location at GGD Amsterdam (Department of Infectious Diseases). Only you and the principal investigator know which code belongs to you. When processing or sharing data, we use only this code.

We will keep the secure file until the study has been completed (approximately six months). We will then delete all personal and email details, as well as the link between the code and your personal data. From that point onwards, the research data will be fully anonymous.

After you have given consent to participate in the study, you will also receive your unique code. Reports and publications about the study will not make it possible to identify that the data came from you.

How long do we keep your data?

We will store your anonymised data at a maximum of 10 years in a secure database at GGD Amsterdam.

May we contact your GP or specialist?

If you develop health complaints after the swimming event, you may visit your GP. In such cases, our physician-researcher may contact your GP if necessary. The physician-researcher will discuss this with you first, and your GP will only be contacted with your explicit consent.

More about your privacy

You may wish to receive an electronic copy of your data that have been used for the study. This is possible. You can ask the researcher for a copy.

Would you like to know more about your rights regarding the processing of personal data? Please visit the Dutch Data Protection Authority

Do you have questions about your rights, or do you have a complaint about your privacy? We recommend that you first discuss this with the principal investigator (see below). You can also contact the Data Protection Officer of GGD Amsterdam [email address: Functionaris.Gegevensbescherming@amsterdam.nl]. Alternatively, you can submit a complaint to the Dutch Data Protection Authority