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A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach to Developing and Testing Social and Behavioural Interventions to Reduce the Spread of SARS-CoV-2: A Protocol for the 'COPAR for COVID' Programme of Research with Five Interconnected Studies in the Hong Kong Context.
Molassiotis, Alex; Xie, Yao Jie; Leung, Angela Y M; Ho, Grace W K; Li, Yan; Leung, Polly Hang-Mei; Wang, Hua Li; Chen, Catherine Xiao Rui; Tong, Danny W K; Siu, Judy Yuen-Man; Lau, Joseph T F.
  • Molassiotis A; School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Xie YJ; Health and Social Care Research Centre, University of Derby, Derby DE22 1GB, UK.
  • Leung AYM; School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Ho GWK; School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Li Y; School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Leung PH; School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Wang HL; Department of Health Technology & Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Chen CXR; Department of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Hong Kong West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Tong DWK; Queen Elisabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Siu JY; Hospital Authority, Hong Kong SAR, China.
  • Lau JTF; Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Int J Environ Res Public Health ; 19(20)2022 Oct 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2071474
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

While a number of population preventive measures for COVID-19 exist that help to decrease the spread of the virus in the community, there are still many areas in preventative efforts that need improvement or refinement, particularly as new strains of the virus develop. Some of the key issues currently include incorrect and/or inconsistent use of face masks, low acceptance of early screening or vaccination for COVID-19, vaccine hesitance, and misinformation. This is particularly the case in some vulnerable populations, such as older people with chronic illnesses, ethnic minorities who may not speak the mainstream language well and children. The current protocol introduces a large programme of research through five interrelated studies that all focus on social and behavioural interventions to improve different aspects of community-related preventative indicators. Hence, the specific objectives of the overall programme are to (1) increase early testing for COVID-19 and promote the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the community (Study 1); (2) increase COVID-19-related health literacy and vaccine literacy and promote improved preventative measures in minority ethnic groups, chronically ill populations and caregivers (Study 2); (3) strengthen the public's motivation to stay at home and avoid nonessential high-risk activities (Study 3); (4) decrease COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (Study 4); and (5) enhance the adherence to COVID-19-related hygiene practices and the uptake of early testing in school children (Study 5).

METHODS:

We will utilise a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in the proposed studies. All studies will incorporate an intervention development phase in conjunction with key community stakeholders, a feasibility study and an execution stage. A variety of self-reported and objective-based measures will be used to assess various outcomes, based on the focus of each study, in both the short- and long-term, including, for example, the 8-item self-reported eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEAL) and objective measures such as vaccine uptake.

DISCUSSION:

Theory-driven interventions will address each study's focus (e.g., social distancing, promotion of vaccine uptake, eHealth education, preventive measures and early detection). Improvements are expected to be seen in the outcomes of vulnerable and high-risk groups. Decreased infection rates are expected due to improved preventative behaviours and increased vaccine uptake. Long-term sustainability of the approach will be achieved through the CBPR model. The publication of this protocol can assist not only in sharing a large-scale and complex community-based design, but will also allow all to learn from this, so that we will have better insight in the future whether sharing of study designs can elicit timely research initiatives.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Vaccines / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Vaccines Limits: Aged / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ijerph192013392

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Vaccines / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study / Randomized controlled trials Topics: Vaccines Limits: Aged / Child / Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ijerph192013392