Public's understanding of swab test results for SARS-CoV-2: an online behavioural experiment during the April 2020 lockdown.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Although widespread testing for SARS-CoV-2 is in place, little is known about how well the public understands these results. We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the general public's grasp of the accuracy and significance of the results of the swab test.

Design

Web-based behavioural experiment.

Setting

Italy during the April 2020 lockdown.

Participants

566 Italian residents.

Main outcome measures

Participants' estimates of the SARS-CoV-2 prevalence; the predictive and diagnostic accuracy of the test; the behavioural impact of (positive vs negative) test results; the perceived usefulness of a short-term repetition of the test following positive or negative results; and rankings of causes for false positives and false negatives.

Res

SUBMITTER: Pighin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7813337 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature