Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
BMC Public Health. 2022 Oct 25;22(1):1963. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14265-8.
Low engagement in contact tracing for COVID-19 dramatically reduces its impact, but little is known about how experiences, environments and characteristics of cases and contacts influence engagement.
We recruited a convenience sample of COVID-19 cases and contacts from the New Haven Health Department's contact tracing program for interviews about their contact tracing experiences. We analyzed transcripts thematically, organized themes using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, Behavior (COM-B) model, and identified candidate interventions using the linked Behavior Change Wheel Framework.
We interviewed 21 cases and 12 contacts. Many felt physically or psychologically incapable of contact tracing participation due to symptoms or uncertainty about protocols. Environmental factors and social contacts also influenced engagement. Finally, physical symptoms, emotions and low trust in and expectations of public health authorities influenced motivation to participate.
To improve contact tracing uptake, programs should respond to clients' physical and emotional needs; increase clarity of public communications; address structural and social factors that shape behaviors and opportunities; and establish and maintain trust. We identify multiple potential interventions that may help achieve these goals.
新冠病毒接触者追踪工作参与度低会极大地降低其影响,但对于病例和接触者的经历、环境和特征如何影响参与度,我们知之甚少。
我们从纽黑文卫生部的接触者追踪计划中招募了一批新冠病毒病例和接触者作为研究对象,对他们的接触者追踪经历进行了访谈。我们对访谈记录进行了主题分析,利用能力-机会-动机-行为(COM-B)模型对主题进行了组织,并利用关联的行为改变轮框架确定了候选干预措施。
我们采访了 21 名病例和 12 名接触者。许多人由于症状或对协议不确定而感到身体或心理上无法参与接触者追踪。环境因素和社会接触也影响了参与度。最后,身体症状、情绪以及对公共卫生当局的低信任和低期望影响了参与的动机。
为了提高接触者追踪的参与度,项目应满足客户的身体和情感需求;增加公共信息传播的清晰度;解决影响行为和机会的结构和社会因素;并建立和维护信任。我们确定了多个潜在的干预措施,这些措施可能有助于实现这些目标。