Title page Title Perspectives on COVID-19 testing policies and practices: a qualitative study with scientific advisors and NHS health care workers in England

Martindale, Anne-Marie ORCID: 0000-0003-1072-3424, Pilbeam, Caitlin, Mableson, Hayley ORCID: 0000-0001-8731-6603, Tonkin-Crine, Sarah, Atkinson, Paul ORCID: 0000-0001-8740-6561, Borek, Aleksandra, Lant, Suzie ORCID: 0000-0003-0852-7803, Gobat, Nina ORCID: 0000-0002-1558-557X, Solomon, Tom ORCID: 0000-0001-7266-6547 and Sheard, Sally (2021) Title page Title Perspectives on COVID-19 testing policies and practices: a qualitative study with scientific advisors and NHS health care workers in England. BMC Public Health.

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Abstract

<h4>Background: </h4> As COVID-19 death rates have risen and health-care systems have experienced increased demand, national testing strategies have come under scrutiny. Utilising qualitative interview data from a larger COVID-19 study, this paper provides insights into influences on and the enactment of national COVID-19 testing strategies for health care workers (HCWs) in English NHS settings during wave one of the COVID-19 pandemic (March-August 2020). We aim to inform COVID-19 learning and future pandemic diagnostic preparedness. <h4>Methods: </h4> A remote qualitative, semi-structured longitudinal interview method was employed with a purposive snowball sample of senior scientific advisors to the UK Government on COVID-19, and HCWs employed in NHS primary and secondary health care settings in England. 24 interviews from 13 participants were selected from the larger project dataset. Framework analysis was informed by the non-adoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread, and sustainability of patient-facing health and care technologies implementation framework (NASSS) and by normalisation process theory (NPT). <h4>Results: </h4> Our account highlights tensions between the communication and implementation of national testing developments; scientific advisor and HCW perceptions about infectiousness; and uncertainties about the responsibility for testing and its implications at the local level. <h4>Conclusions: </h4> Consideration must be given to the implications of mass NHS staff testing, including the accuracy of information communicated to HCWs; how HCWs interpret, manage, and act on testing guidance; and the influence these have on health care organisations and services.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Clinical Research, Health Services, Generic health relevance, 3 Good Health and Well Being
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Histories, Languages and Cultures
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	30 Jun 2021 09:12
Last Modified:	14 Mar 2024 18:52
DOI:	10.21203/rs.3.rs-454781/v1
Open Access URL:	https://link.springer.com/epdf/10.1186/s12889-021-...
Related URLs:	Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3128232