COVID-19 testing in English care homes and implications for staff and residents.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Care home residents are at high risk of dying from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Regular testing, producing rapid and reliable results is important in this population because infections spread quickly, and presentations are often atypical or asymptomatic. This study evaluated current testing pathways in care homes to explore the role of point-of-care tests (POCTs).

Methods

A total of 10 staff from eight care homes, purposively sampled to reflect care organisational attributes that influence outbreak severity, underwent a semi-structured remote videoconference interview. Transcripts were analysed using process mapping tools and framework analysis focussing on perceptions about, gaps within and needs arising from current pathways.

Results

Four main s

SUBMITTER: Micocci M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7929459 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature