Students' and staffs' views and experiences of asymptomatic testing on a university campus during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland: a mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To explore the acceptability of regular asymptomatic testing for SARS-CoV-2 on a university campus using saliva sampling for PCR analysis and the barriers and facilitators to participation.

Design

Cross-sectional surveys and qualitative semistructured interviews.

Setting

Edinburgh, Scotland.

Participants

University staff and students who had registered for the testing programme (TestEd) and provided at least one sample.

Results

522 participants completed a pilot survey in April 2021 and 1750 completed the main survey (November 2021). 48 staff and students who consented to be contacted for interview took part in the qualitative research. Participants were positive about their experience with TestEd with 94% describing it as 'excellent' or 'good

SUBMITTER: Bauld L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10030276 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature