Engagement with daily testing instead of self-isolating in contacts of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2: a qualitative analysis
Engagement with daily testing instead of self-isolating in contacts of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2: a qualitative analysis
Introduction : in December 2020 and January 2021 Public Health England (PHE) with NHS Test and Trace conducted a study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of daily testing as an alternative to self-isolation following close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. This qualitative paper aims to identify factors influencing uptake among those offered daily testing, and the subsequent impact on behaviour.
Methods: we conducted in-depth interviews with 52 participants who had taken part in the feasibility study. Participants were asked about their experiences of daily testing or self-isolating, their reasons for choosing to test or isolate, and their behaviour during the study period. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results: results are presented under two main headings: 1) factors influencing acceptance of testing and 2) impact of test results. Participants appeared highly motivated to engage in behaviours that would protect others from the virus. Factors influencing the decision to accept testing included 1) needing to avoid self-isolation 2) concerns about test sensitivity and 3) perceived benefits of detecting infection. Participants who were taking tests reported:1) positive consequences following confirmation of COVID status 2) engaging in essential activities 3) uncertainty and 4) self-isolating whilst testing.
Conclusions: this study has identified a range of factors that appear to influence the decision to engage in daily testing or to self-isolate following close contact with a positive case, many of which could be addressed by clear communications. Covid-19 infection rates and government restrictions influenced experiences, and so further research is needed to explore perceptions of daily testing and behaviour following close contact with a positive case among a wider range of individuals, in the context of lower rates of COVID-19, few government restrictions on general population behaviour and more widespread testing.
COVID-19, infection control, lateral flow device, qualitative, test
Denford, Sarah
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Martin, Alex
e137f6f2-bc93-4939-b56c-9ff52b8d9fd9
Love, Nicola
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Ready, Derren
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Oliver, Isabel
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Amlôt, Richard
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Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Rubin, James
a1b1aed4-81d0-4a77-9731-988d6e242344
3 August 2021
Denford, Sarah
8970b5a7-8cad-4356-ad0e-88297b67db37
Martin, Alex
e137f6f2-bc93-4939-b56c-9ff52b8d9fd9
Love, Nicola
ad596e12-5433-43f0-ae7d-8dd9da84e6a4
Ready, Derren
bc11ef15-b8f9-4372-9750-fd9c55981796
Oliver, Isabel
8cd29c59-d46a-4b7f-97ee-ad66a48cf0ff
Amlôt, Richard
d93f5263-ea24-4b12-b505-f51694220b8e
Yardley, Lucy
64be42c4-511d-484d-abaa-f8813452a22e
Rubin, James
a1b1aed4-81d0-4a77-9731-988d6e242344
Denford, Sarah, Martin, Alex, Love, Nicola, Ready, Derren, Oliver, Isabel, Amlôt, Richard, Yardley, Lucy and Rubin, James
(2021)
Engagement with daily testing instead of self-isolating in contacts of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2: a qualitative analysis.
Frontiers in Public Health, 9, [714041].
(doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.714041).
Abstract
Introduction : in December 2020 and January 2021 Public Health England (PHE) with NHS Test and Trace conducted a study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of daily testing as an alternative to self-isolation following close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. This qualitative paper aims to identify factors influencing uptake among those offered daily testing, and the subsequent impact on behaviour.
Methods: we conducted in-depth interviews with 52 participants who had taken part in the feasibility study. Participants were asked about their experiences of daily testing or self-isolating, their reasons for choosing to test or isolate, and their behaviour during the study period. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.
Results: results are presented under two main headings: 1) factors influencing acceptance of testing and 2) impact of test results. Participants appeared highly motivated to engage in behaviours that would protect others from the virus. Factors influencing the decision to accept testing included 1) needing to avoid self-isolation 2) concerns about test sensitivity and 3) perceived benefits of detecting infection. Participants who were taking tests reported:1) positive consequences following confirmation of COVID status 2) engaging in essential activities 3) uncertainty and 4) self-isolating whilst testing.
Conclusions: this study has identified a range of factors that appear to influence the decision to engage in daily testing or to self-isolate following close contact with a positive case, many of which could be addressed by clear communications. Covid-19 infection rates and government restrictions influenced experiences, and so further research is needed to explore perceptions of daily testing and behaviour following close contact with a positive case among a wider range of individuals, in the context of lower rates of COVID-19, few government restrictions on general population behaviour and more widespread testing.
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Daily_testing_close_contacts_qualitative_manuscript_final accepted
- Accepted Manuscript
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fpubh-09-714041
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 8 July 2021
Published date: 3 August 2021
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units (NIHR HPRU) in Emergency Preparedness and Response, a partnership between Public Health England, King’s College London and the University of East Anglia, and Behavioural Science and Evaluations, a partnership between Public Health England and the University
Funding Information:
This manuscript is available as a preprint on the server medRxiv. Funding. This study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Units (NIHR HPRU) in Emergency Preparedness and Response, a partnership between Public Health England, King's College London and the University of East Anglia, and Behavioural Science and Evaluations, a partnership between Public Health England and the University of Bristol. LY is an NIHR Senior Investigator and her research programme is partly supported by NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC)-West, NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, and the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). SD is supported by the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Behavioural Science and Evaluation at the University of Bristol in partnership with Public Health England. AM is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council Grant Number ES/J500057/1 and the NIHR HPRU in Emergency Preparedness and Response at King's College London in partnership with Public Health England. GR is supported by the NIHR HPRU in Emergency Preparedness and Response at King's College London in partnership with Public Health England.
Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2021 Denford, Martin, Love, Ready, Oliver, Amlôt, Yardley and Rubin.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords:
COVID-19, infection control, lateral flow device, qualitative, test
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 452480
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/452480
ISSN: 2296-2565
PURE UUID: e3999d14-d56d-4680-b6f2-1c3fa9a2d02f
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Date deposited: 11 Dec 2021 11:16
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:47
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Contributors
Author:
Sarah Denford
Author:
Alex Martin
Author:
Nicola Love
Author:
Derren Ready
Author:
Isabel Oliver
Author:
Richard Amlôt
Author:
James Rubin
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