dbGaP Study Accession: phs002633

NIH Institute/Center: NIGMS

RADx Data Program: RADx-UP

Release Date: 08/31/2023

DOI: 10.60773/7x5v-ym43

Study Description: In the US, COVID-19 has unveiled a disproportionate health burden in low income and underserved segments of society. In Louisiana, some of the greatest health and economic consequences are evident in Black communities. There was an urgent need to establish effective testing strategies in these communities as the Fall/Winter virus surges unfolded. The Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science (LA CaTS) Center provided the essential infrastructure and key foundational support for biomedical research in this region; it was uniquely positioned to lead a community-engaged testing research project to determine differences in COVID-19 testing rates between community-based (churches, community centers, and schools) and medical clinic-based testing sites, and determine approaches that would increase uptake of testing in underserved Black communities in the South. These issues were addressed using a two-pronged approach. First, a community based participatory research approach was applied to determine differences in SARS-CoV-2 testing rates across distinct types of test sites within five urban underserved Black communities in the American South. A multimedia campaign was used to promote and conduct real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing on salivary samples obtained from 2,000-3,000 adults at 1) medical clinics, 2) schools, 3) community centers, and 4) churches (in random order) within five ZIP codes with known low socioeconomic status (SES) and a high representation of Black residents. The primary outcome was the number of tests performed at each type of test site. Information on age, sex, race, height, weight, employment, and household income, etc. was collected to identify important correlates of testing rates. Second, the strong and well-integrated partnership with the Baton Rouge Mayor's Healthy City Initiative (HealthyBR) was further leveraged together with the LA CaTS Community Advisory Boards (CABs) to conduct community-based focus groups, to obtain qualitative data about the perceptions and attitudes related to testing access and potential barriers affecting such. This information was used to determine community-driven approaches that are effective in reducing barriers and to create strategies to increase SARS-CoV-2 testing uptake in urban underserved Black communities. Results of this project greatly increased understanding of the factors that have led to a disproportionate COVID-19 health burden in these underserved populations and lay the groundwork for developing strategies to reduce these disparities in all underserved Black communities. Resulting data informed the equitable deployment of future virus/flu testing and a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.

Updated Date: 04/17/2024

Principal Investigator: Kirwan, John P

Has Data Files: Yes

Study Domain: COVID in School Settings; Community Outreach Programs; Testing Rate or Uptake

Data Collection Method: Interview or Focus Group; Molecular Nucleic Acid or PCR Testing Device; Survey

Keywords: COVID-related Health Disparities; Faith-based Testing

Study Design: Longitudinal Cohort

Multi-Center Study: No

Data Types: Behavioral; Biological Specimens; Clinical; Immunological; Questionnaire or Survey

Study Start Date: 10/01/2020

Study End Date: 09/30/2022

Species: Human Data

Estimated Cohort Size: 2000

Study Population Focus: Adults; African Americans; Lower Socioeconomic Status (SES) Populations; Older Adults or Elderly

Publication URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36807397/

Acknowledgement Statement: This study was supported through funding, 3U54GM104940-06S5, for the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) as part of the RADx-UP program. Approved users should acknowledge the provision of data access by dbGaP for accession phs002633.v1.p1, and the NIH RADx Data Hub. Approved users should also acknowledge the specific version(s) of the dataset(s) obtained from the NIH RADx Data Hub.

Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) Number: PA-20-272

NIH Grant or Contract Number(s): 3U54GM104940-06S5

Consent/Data Use Limitations: General Research Use