Dataset Information

The suitability and usability of a tool to assess contact status from COVID-19 exposures in the workplace.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the usability of a self-assessment COVID-19 exposure tool for workplaces.

Methods

A COVID-19 exposure tool for workplaces was developed using five risk criteria. Public Health Unit (PHU) assessors who administered the tool documented when they administered the tool, the time taken for finalisation of the assessment and ease of administration. The System Usability Scale was used for workplace managers' perceptions on tool use. Data were assessed using both quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Results

Eighty-four workplaces used the tool to assess COVID-19 exposure risk. Of those, the outcome provided by the tool did not require modification by the PHU assessor in 70% of workplaces. Eighty per cent of the assessments were completed by the next day. PHU assessors rated the overall ease of administration of the tool as 'easy' or 'very easy' for 85% of workplaces and indicated they would employ the tool across a number of settings including complex workplaces. The mean System Usability Scale was 82. Workplace managers were predominately positive regarding its suitability.

Conclusion

The tool provides an easy-to-use assessment of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in the workplace.

Implications for public health

The tool's adoption will empower workplace managers and improve the capacity of public health units to prevent further transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in workplaces.

SUBMITTER: Capon A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9348483 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The suitability and usability of a tool to assess contact status from COVID-19 exposures in the workplace.

Capon Adam A Gonzalez Nicolas N Sheppeard Vicky V

Australian and New Zealand journal of public health 20220526 4

<h4>Objective</h4>To assess the usability of a self-assessment COVID-19 exposure tool for workplaces.<h4>Methods</h4>A COVID-19 exposure tool for workplaces was developed using five risk criteria. Public Health Unit (PHU) assessors who administered the tool documented when they administered the tool, the time taken for finalisation of the assessment and ease of administration. The System Usability Scale was used for workplace managers' perceptions on tool use. Data were assessed using both quant ...[more]

PMID: 35616380

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Project description:BackgroundAdoption and evaluation of contact tracing tools based on information and communications technology may expand the reach and efficacy of traditional contact tracing methods in fighting COVID-19. The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports initiated and developed CoronaMelder, a COVID-19 contact tracing app. This app is based on a Google/Apple Exposure Notification approach and aims to combat the spread of the coronavirus among individuals by notifying those who are at increased risk of infection due to proximity to someone who later tests positive for COVID-19. The app should support traditional contact tracing by faster tracing and greater reach compared to regular contact tracing procedures.ObjectiveThe main goal of this study is to investigate whether the CoronaMelder is able to support traditional contact tracing employed by public health authorities. To achieve this, usability tests were conducted to answer the following question: is the CoronaMelder user-friendly, understandable, reliable and credible, and inclusive?MethodsParticipants (N=44) of different backgrounds were recruited: youth with varying educational levels, youth with an intellectual disability, migrants, adults (aged 40-64 years), and older adults (aged >65 years) via convenience sampling in the region of Twente in the Netherlands. The app was evaluated with scenario-based, think-aloud usability tests and additional interviews. Findings were recorded via voice recordings, observation notes, and the Dutch User Experience Questionnaire, and some participants wore eye trackers to measure gaze behavior.ResultsOur results showed that the app is easy to use, although problems occurred with understandability and accessibility. Older adults and youth with a lower education level did not understand why or under what circumstances they would receive notifications, why they must share their key (ie, their assigned identifier), and what happens after sharing. In particular, youth in the lower-education category did not trust or understand Bluetooth signals, or comprehend timing and follow-up activities after a risk exposure notification. Older adults had difficulties multitasking (speaking with a public health worker and simultaneously sharing the key in the app). Public health authorities appeared to be unprepared to receive support from the app during traditional contact tracing because their telephone conversation protocol lacks guidance, explanation, and empathy.ConclusionsThe study indicated that the CoronaMelder app is easy to use, but participants experienced misunderstandings about its functioning. The perceived lack of clarity led to misconceptions about the app, mostly regarding its usefulness and privacy-preserving mechanisms. Tailored and targeted communication through, for example, public campaigns or social media, is necessary to provide correct information about the app to residents in the Netherlands. Additionally, the app should be presented as part of the national coronavirus measures instead of as a stand-alone app offered to the public. Public health workers should be trained to effectively and empathetically instruct users on how to use the CoronaMelder app.

Project description:ObjectiveCOVID-19 is currently diagnosed in hospital settings. An easy and practical diagnosis of COVID-19 is needed in primary care. For this purpose, the usability of complete blood count in the diagnosis of COVID-19 was investigated.DesignRetrospective, cross-sectional study.SettingSingle-centre study in a tertiary university hospital in Erzurum, Turkey.ParticipantsBetween March 2020 and February 2021, patients aged 18-70 years who applied to the hospital and underwent both complete blood count and reverse-transcription-PCR tests for COVID-19 were included and compared. Conditions affecting the test parameters (oncological-haematological conditions, chronic diseases, drug usage) were excluded.Outcome measureThe complete blood count and COVID-19 results of eligible patients identified using diagnostic codes [U07.3 (COVID-19) or Z03.8 (observation for other suspected diseases and conditions)] were investigated.ResultsOf the 978 patients included, 39.4% (n=385) were positive for COVID-19 and 60.6% (n=593) were negative. The mean age was 41.5±14.5 years, and 53.9% (n=527) were male. COVID-19-positive patients were found to have significantly lower leucocyte, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, basophil, platelet and immature granulocyte (IG) values (p<0.001). Neutrophil/lymphocyte, neutrophil/monocyte and IG/lymphocyte ratios were also found to be significantly decreased (p<0.001). With logistic regression analysis, low lymphocyte count (OR 0.695; 95% CI 0.597 to 0.809) and low red cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) (OR 0.887; 95% CI 0.818 to 0.962) were significantly associated with COVID-19 positivity. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, the cut-off values of lymphocyte and RDW-CV were 0.745 and 12.35, respectively.ConclusionAlthough our study was designed retrospectively and reflects regional data, it is important to determine that low lymphocyte count and RDW-CV can be used in the diagnosis of COVID-19 in primary care.

Dataset Information

The suitability and usability of a tool to assess contact status from COVID-19 exposures in the workplace.

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Implications for public health

Publications

The suitability and usability of a tool to assess contact status from COVID-19 exposures in the workplace.

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