ResearchProjects

Using the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to Optimize an Intervention to Increase COVID-19 Testing for Black and Latino/Hispanic Frontline Essential Workers
Funded by: National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Project dates: January 2022 - November 2024
Principal Investigator: Gwadz, Marya
Co-Investigator: Cleland, Charles
PROJECT DESCRIPTION

COVID-19 testing is essential to controlling the COVID-19 pandemic to break transmission chains and reduce community transmission. However, Black and Latino/Hispanic populations in frontline essential occupations such as food preparation, retail, building maintenance, personal services, and in-home health care have serious barriers to COVID-19 testing and, therefore, insufficient testing rates. The study will use the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework to address the problem of low COVID-19 testing rates for this population. It will test the effects of four distinct candidate intervention components and then create an efficient multicomponent made up of the most effective combination of the components that can be rapidly scaled up in community settings to boost COVID-19 testing rates.

Abstract on NIH RePORTER
Related Publications
Gwadz M, Cleland CM, Lizardo M, Hawkins RL, Bangser G, Parameswaran L, Stanhope V, Robinson JA, Karim S, Holloway T, Ramirez PG, Filippone PL, Ritchie AS, Banfield A, Silverman E (2022).
Using the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework to optimize an intervention to increase COVID-19 testing for Black and Latino/Hispanic frontline essential workers: A study protocol
BMC Public Health, 22, 1235. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13576-0. PMCID: PMC9210062.