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Attitudes about COVID-19 Testing among Black Adults in the United States.
Schaffer DeRoo, Sarah; Torres, Rachel G; Ben-Maimon, Sivan; Jiggetts, Jennifer; Fu, Linda Y.
  • Schaffer DeRoo S; Children's National Hospital, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Washington, DC.
  • Torres RG; Children's National Hospital, Center for Translational Research, Washington, DC.
  • Ben-Maimon S; George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
  • Jiggetts J; Children's National Hospital, Quality Improvement, Washington, DC.
  • Fu LY; Children's National Hospital, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Washington, DC.
Ethn Dis ; 31(4): 519-526, 2021.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1485607
ABSTRACT

Purpose:

Black Americans are disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations and deaths. Decreasing health disparities requires widespread uptake of COVID-19 testing, but attitudes about COVID-19 testing among Black Americans have not been studied. We aimed to characterize knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about COVID-19 testing among Black parents.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analyzed using a phenomenology approach with 26 self-identified Black parents after telemedicine visits with a children's health center. Interviews were recorded and transcribed; 65% were double coded with a resultant free-marginal interrater kappa score of 86.8%.

Results:

Most participants were women, spent time inside the homes of friends or family members, and almost half knew someone diagnosed with COVID-19. Three central themes emerged regarding COVID-19 testing decision making, including 1) perceived COVID-19 disease susceptibility; 2) barriers to testing, with subthemes including trust in test accuracy and safety, perceived stigma of a positive test result, and impact of racism on self-efficacy; and 3) cues to action.

Conclusions:

When considering these themes as constructs of the Health Belief Model, we are better able to understand Black Americans' views of COVID-19 testing and motivations for accessing testing. Culturally responsive educational campaigns delivered by trusted community members should aim to improve understanding about disease transmission and types of tests available. Importantly, framing testing as a means to ensure safety may improve self-efficacy to obtain testing. Lastly, the health community should learn from these conversations with Black Americans so that disease prevention and mitigation strategies prioritize health equity.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Testing / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Adult / Child / Female / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Ethn Dis Journal subject: Social Sciences / Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 Testing / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Limits: Adult / Child / Female / Humans Country/Region as subject: North America Language: English Journal: Ethn Dis Journal subject: Social Sciences / Public Health Year: 2021 Document Type: Article