Development and Implementation of Informational Toolkits to Address Inequities in COVID-19 Testing.

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected African American communities. Informational toolkits have emerged as a strategy to address such inequities. Community-driven approaches to toolkit design may enhance their relevance and impact in underserved communities.

METHODS

Using a human-centered design approach, we developed COVID-19 testing toolkits tailored to health care, faith-based, and public housing settings in rural and urban communities. A group of community stakeholders representing each setting was recruited to co-create the toolkits. The design process began with an intensive two-day workshop to deliberate on content, format, and dissemination channels, followed by virtual meetings and iterative prototyping cycles that incorporated stakeholder feedback. Given the complexity of implementing such toolkits in health care settings, additional measures were taken to support and assess implementation at the participating health facility sites.

RESULTS

The toolkits included core resources, such as training modules, testing guidelines, and maps, and setting-specific content, such as appointment reminders, pulpit announcements, and emergency contact sheets. Materials were provided in both digital and print formats. Onboarding and technical training facilitated implementation in health care settings. Pre/post implementation surveys showed high perceived usefulness and feasibility of the health care toolkits. Implementation patterns favored print resources, with appointment reminders being most utilized. Leadership support enhanced toolkit credibility and adoption. Implementation challenges included COVID-19 fatigue, technology limitations, and leadership transitions.

CONCLUSION

Informational toolkits co-developed with community stakeholders provide a model for translating research into solutions that enhance health equity. Prioritizing community perspectives can improve preparedness for future crises. Successful implementation requires adaptability, multimodal delivery, and sustained leadership buy-in.