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

Martindale, Anne-Marie, Pilbeam, Caitlin, Mableson, Hayley ORCID: 0000-0001-8731-6603, Tonkin-Crine, Sarah, Atkinson, Paul ORCID: 0000-0001-8740-6561, Borek, Aleksandra, Lant, Suzannah, Gobat, Nina, Solomon, Tom ORCID: 0000-0001-7266-6547 and Sheard, Sally ORCID: 0000-0001-8116-9120 (2021) Perspectives on COVID-19 testing policies and practices: a qualitative study with scientific advisors and NHS health care workers in England. BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 21 (1). 1216-.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11285-8

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). Through the findings we aim to inform learning about COVID-19 testing policies and practices; and to inform 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. Twenty-four interviews from 13 participants were selected from the larger project dataset using a key term search, as not all of the transcripts contained references to testing. 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:	COVID-19, Testing, NHS, Semi-structured interviews, Health care settings, Healthcare workers, UK health policy, Pandemic
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	05 Jul 2021 11:42
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 21:37
DOI:	10.1186/s12889-021-11285-8
Open Access URL:	https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles...
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3128853