Publications

@article{Blake2022-qn,

title = {A qualitative evaluation of the barriers and enablers for 

 implementation of an asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 testing service 

 at the university of Nottingham: A multi-site higher education 

 setting in England},

author = {Holly Blake and Sarah Somerset and Ikra Mahmood and Neelam Mahmood and Jessica Corner and Jonathan K Ball and Chris Denning},

year  = {2022},

date = {2022-10-01},

journal = {Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health},

volume = {19},

number = {20},

pages = {13140},

publisher = {MDPI AG},

abstract = {Asymptomatic testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been used to prevent 

 and manage COVID-19 outbreaks in university settings, but few 

 studies have explored their implementation. The aim of the study 

 was to evaluate how an accredited asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 

 testing service (ATS) was implemented at the University of 

 Nottingham, a multi-campus university in England, to identify 

 barriers and enablers of implementation and to draw out lessons 

 for implementing pandemic response initiatives in higher 

 education settings. A qualitative interview study was conducted 

 with 25 ATS personnel between May and July 2022. Interviews were 

 conducted online, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Participants 

 were asked about their experience of the ATS, barriers and 

 enablers of implementation. Transcripts were thematically 

 analysed. There were four overarching themes: (1) social 

 responsibility and innovation, (2) when, how and why people 

 accessed testing, (3) impact of the ATS on the spread of 

 COVID-19, and (4) lessons learned for the future. In 

 establishing the service, the institution was seen to be valuing 

 its community and socially responsible. The service was viewed 

 to be broadly successful as a COVID-19 mitigation approach. 

 Challenges to service implementation were the rapidly changing 

 pandemic situation and government advice, delays in service 

 accreditation and rollout to staff, ambivalence towards testing 

 and isolating in the target population, and an inability to 

 provide follow-up support for positive cases within the service. 

 Facilitators included service visibility, reduction in 

 organisational bureaucracy and red tape, inclusive leadership, 

 collaborative working with regular feedback on service status, 

 flexibility in service delivery approaches and simplicity of 

 saliva testing. The ATS instilled a perception of early 'return 

 to normality' and impacted positively on staff feelings of 

 safety and wellbeing, with wider benefits for healthcare 

 services and local communities. In conclusion, we identified 

 common themes that have facilitated or hindered the 

 implementation of a SARS-CoV-2 testing service at a university 

 in England. Lessons learned from ATS implementation will inform 

 future pandemic response interventions in higher education 

 settings.},

keywords = {COVID-19, health protection, health testing, pandemic, qualitative, SARS-CoV-2},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}