Nwaozuru Ucheoma, Obiezu-Umeh Chisom, Diallo Hassim, Graham Danielle, Whembolua Guy-Lucien, Bourgeau Marie Janeeca, Ritchwood Tiarney, Nelson LaRon E, Shato Thembekile, Mathews Allison, Moise Rhoda, Ward Maranda C, Raude Jocelyn, Ahonkhai Aima A, Young Diane J, Conserve Donaldson F
Wake Forest School of Medicine.
Saint Louis University.
Res Sq. 2022 Feb 21:rs.3.rs-1277219. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1277219/v1.
Background COVID-19 self-testing (ST) is an innovative strategy with the potential to increase the access and uptake of testing and ultimately to limit the spread of the virus. To maximize the uptake and reach of this promising strategy and inform intervention development and scale up, research is needed to understand the acceptability of and willingness to use this tool. This is vital to ensure that Black/African Americans are reached by the Biden-Harris Administration’s free national COVID-19 ST program. This study aimed to explore the acceptability and recommendations to promote and scale up the uptake of COVID-19 ST among Black/African Americans. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study using a semi-structured survey to assess barriers and facilitators to the uptake of COVID-19 ST among a convenience sample of 28 self-identified Black/African Americans from schools, community centers, and faith-based institutions in Ohio and Maryland. Inductive content analysis was conducted to identify categories and subcategories related to acceptability and recommendations for implementing and scaling up COVID-19 ST in communities. Results Participants perceived COVID-19 self-testing as an acceptable tool that is beneficial to prevent transmission and address some of the barriers associated with health facility testing, such as transportation cost and human contact at the health facility. However, concerns were raised regarding the accurate use of the kits and costs. Recommendations for implementing and scaling up COVID-19 ST included engagement of community stakeholders to disseminate information about COVID-19 self-testing and creating culturally appropriate education tools to promote knowledge of and clear instructions about how to properly use COVID-19 ST kits. Based on these recommendations, the COVID-19 STEP (Self-Testing Education and Promotion) Project is being developed and will involve engaging community partners such as barbers, church leaders, and other community-based organizations to increase the uptake and use of free COVID-19 ST kits among Black/African Americans. Conclusion Findings showed that most participants considered COVID-19 ST valuable for encouraging COVID-19 testing. However, cost and accuracy concerns may pose barriers. Future work should consider implementing interventions that leverage the benefits of COVID-19 ST and further assess the extent to which these identified facilitators and barriers may influence COVID-19 ST uptake.
新冠病毒自我检测（ST）是一项创新策略，有可能增加检测的可及性和使用率，并最终限制病毒传播。为了最大限度地提高这一前景广阔的策略的使用率和覆盖面，并为干预措施的制定和扩大规模提供信息，需要开展研究以了解该工具的可接受性和使用意愿。这对于确保拜登-哈里斯政府的免费全国新冠病毒自我检测计划覆盖黑人/非裔美国人至关重要。本研究旨在探讨在黑人/非裔美国人中促进和扩大新冠病毒自我检测使用率的可接受性及相关建议。方法：我们采用半结构化调查进行了一项横断面定性研究，以评估在俄亥俄州和马里兰州从学校、社区中心和宗教机构中选取的28名自认为是黑人/非裔美国人的便利样本中，新冠病毒自我检测使用的障碍和促进因素。进行归纳性内容分析，以确定与新冠病毒自我检测在社区中的可接受性以及实施和扩大规模的建议相关的类别和子类别。结果：参与者认为新冠病毒自我检测是一种可接受的工具，有利于预防传播并解决一些与医疗机构检测相关的障碍，如交通成本和在医疗机构的人际接触。然而，人们对检测试剂盒的正确使用和成本表示担忧。实施和扩大新冠病毒自我检测的建议包括让社区利益相关者参与传播有关新冠病毒自我检测的信息，并创建符合文化背景的教育工具，以促进对如何正确使用新冠病毒自我检测试剂盒的了解和清晰指导。基于这些建议，正在开展新冠病毒自我检测教育与推广（STEP）项目，该项目将让理发师、教会领袖和其他社区组织等社区合作伙伴参与进来，以提高黑人/非裔美国人对免费新冠病毒自我检测试剂盒的使用率和使用情况。结论：研究结果表明，大多数参与者认为新冠病毒自我检测对鼓励新冠病毒检测很有价值。然而，成本和准确性方面的担忧可能构成障碍。未来的工作应考虑实施利用新冠病毒自我检测益处的干预措施，并进一步评估这些已确定的促进因素和障碍可能在多大程度上影响新冠病毒自我检测的使用率。
