Highly valued despite burdens: Qualitative implementation research on rapid tests for hospital-based SARS-CoV-2 screening.

ABSTRACT: Antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for SARS-CoV-2 have good reliability and have been repeatedly implemented as part of pandemic response policies, especially for screening in high-risk settings (e.g., hospitals and care homes) where fast recognition of an infection is essential. However, evidence from actual implementation efforts and associated experiences is lacking. We conducted a qualitative study at a large tertiary care hospital in Germany to identify step-by-step processes when implementing RDTs for the screening of incoming patients, as well as stakeholders' implementation experiences. We relied on 30 in-depth interviews with hospital staff (members of the regulatory body, department heads, staff working on the wards, staff training providers on how to perform RDTs, and p

SUBMITTER: Wachinger J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9338839 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature