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Implementation of a volunteer contact tracing program for COVID-19 in the United States: A qualitative focus group study.
Shelby, Tyler; Hennein, Rachel; Schenck, Christopher; Clark, Katie; Meyer, Amanda J; Goodwin, Justin; Weeks, Brian; Bond, Maritza; Niccolai, Linda; Davis, J Lucian; Grau, Lauretta E.
  • Shelby T; Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Hennein R; Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Schenck C; Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Clark K; Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Meyer AJ; Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Goodwin J; Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Weeks B; Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Bond M; Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Niccolai L; Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Davis JL; New Haven Health Department, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
  • Grau LE; New Haven Health Department, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
PLoS One ; 16(5): e0251033, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1216959
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Contact tracing is an important tool for suppressing COVID-19 but has been difficult to adapt to the conditions of a public health emergency. This study explored the experiences and perspectives of volunteer contact tracers in order to identify facilitators, challenges, and novel solutions for implementing COVID-19 contact tracing.

METHODS:

As part of a study to evaluate an emergently established volunteer contact tracing program for COVID-19 in New Haven, Connecticut, April-June 2020, we conducted focus groups with 36 volunteer contact tracers, thematically analyzed the data, and synthesized the findings using the RE-AIM implementation framework.

RESULTS:

To successfully reach cases and contacts, participants recommended identifying clients' outreach preferences, engaging clients authentically, and addressing sources of mistrust. Participants felt that the effectiveness of successful isolation and quarantine was contingent on minimizing delays in reaching clients and on systematically assessing and addressing their nutritional, financial, and housing needs. They felt that successful adoption of a volunteer-driven contact tracing model depended on the ability to recruit self-motivated contact tracers and provide rapid training and consistent, supportive supervision. Participants noted that implementation could be enhanced with better management tools, such as more engaging interview scripts, user-friendly data management software, and protocols for special situations and populations. They also emphasized the value of coordinating outreach efforts with other involved providers and agencies. Finally, they believed that long-term maintenance of a volunteer-driven program requires monetary or educational incentives to sustain participation.

CONCLUSIONS:

This is one of the first studies to qualitatively examine implementation of a volunteer-run COVID-19 contact tracing program. Participants identified facilitators, barriers, and potential solutions for improving implementation of COVID-19 contact tracing in this context. These included standardized communication skills training, supportive supervision, and peer networking to improve implementation, as well as greater cooperation with outside agencies, flexible scheduling, and volunteer incentives to promote sustainability.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Program Evaluation / Contact Tracing / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0251033

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Program Evaluation / Contact Tracing / COVID-19 Type of study: Experimental Studies / Prognostic study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Adult / Female / Humans / Male Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0251033