Clinical trial NCT04797858: COVID-19 Self-Testing Through Rapid Network Distribution
Official title: Secondary Distribution of COVID-19 Self-tests vs. Referrals to Increase Test Uptake in Underserved Populations
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Covid19
Lead sponsor: University of Pennsylvania
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Public Health Management Corporation
First posted: 2021-03-15
Enrollment: 792
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Brief summary: COVID-19, the coronavirus disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), has led to a global pandemic and has exacerbated existing health inequities among vulnerable populations. Despite higher rates of COVID-19 in Black and Latinx individuals compared to White individuals, rates of testing in predominately non-White, low-income communities are significantly lower than in high-income areas. Self-testing, where individuals collect their own samples, is now feasible for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. One promising approach to increase test uptake is the secondary distribution of self-testing kits, where an individual distributes tests to contacts in their social network and encourages them to self-test.

The central hypothesis of this clinical trial is that the secondary distribution of SARS-CoV-2 self-tests can significantly expand test uptake among underserved populations. To test this hypothesis, the investigators will conduct a 1:1 randomized controlled trial that will assess a self-testing intervention that promotes the secondary distribution of SARS-CoV-2 test kits compared with test referrals, with a focus on reaching underserved populations.

Detailed description: Strategies to rapidly disseminate COVID-19 testing are urgently needed, particularly to address increasing health disparities among underserved communities. One promising approach to increase test uptake is the secondary distribution of self-tests, where an individual distributes test kits to contacts in their social network and encourages them to self-test. By decentralizing testing, this approach does not require individuals to have contact with medical systems, and can lower potential barriers to obtaining testing. This approach can increase case detection by facilitating testing among exposed individuals, and potentially ameliorate stigma, fear, and medical mistrust associated with COVID-19 among vulnerable populations because the testing process is decentralized.

The investigators will conduct a 1:1 randomized controlled trial randomizing individuals to receive either multiple self-test kits to distribute within their social circles, or referrals for standard clinic-based tests. All study participants will be offered testing upon enrollment. Study participants, deemed "Index Participants," will be randomized to receive multiple self-testing kits (intervention) or test referral cards and text messages (control) to encourage individuals in their social networks, deemed "network contacts" to test. Participants will complete a baseline evaluation and a follow-up evaluation at 8 weeks. We will measure network contact test uptake in both study arms. The central hypothesis of this trial is that distribution of self-test kits will increase test uptake compared with distribution of test referrals.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years of age or older
* Has a working telephone number
* Willing and able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Younger than 18 years of age
* Does not have a working telephone number
* Prior COVID-19 infection in the past 90 days
* Previously received a COVID-19 test as part of this COVID-19 research study
* Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent

Primary outcomes:
measure: Network Contact Test Uptake
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Network Contact Test Uptake, End of Study
timeFrame: Through study completion, up to 30 months.
measure: Number of Contacts Tested at 8 Weeks
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Number of Contacts Tested
timeFrame: Through study completion, up to 30 months
measure: Number of Participants With at Least One Network Contact Who Tested Positive for COVID-19 at 8 Weeks
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Number of Participants With at Least One Network Contact Who Tested Positive for COVID-19, End of Study
timeFrame: Through study completion, up to 30 months
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: Public Health Management Corporation
state: Pennsylvania
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Pennsylvania
name: Robert Gross, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Bien-Gund C, Dugosh K, Acri T, Brady K, Thirumurthy H, Fishman J, Gross R. Factors Associated With US Public Motivation to Use and Distribute COVID-19 Self-tests. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Jan 4;4(1):e2034001. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.34001.
citation: Lightfoot MA, Campbell CK, Moss N, Treves-Kagan S, Agnew E, Kang Dufour MS, Scott H, Sa'id AM, Lippman SA. Using a Social Network Strategy to Distribute HIV Self-Test Kits to African American and Latino MSM. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2018 Sep 1;79(1):38-45. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001726.
citation: Golden MR, Kerani RP, Stenger M, Hughes JP, Aubin M, Malinski C, Holmes KK. Uptake and population-level impact of expedited partner therapy (EPT) on Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae: the Washington State community-level randomized trial of EPT. PLoS Med. 2015 Jan 15;12(1):e1001777. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001777. eCollection 2015 Jan.
citation: Bagcchi S. Stigma during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020 Jul;20(7):782. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30498-9. No abstract available.
citation: MacGowan RJ, Chavez PR, Borkowf CB, Owen SM, Purcell DW, Mermin JH, Sullivan PS; eSTAMP Study Group. Effect of Internet-Distributed HIV Self-tests on HIV Diagnosis and Behavioral Outcomes in Men Who Have Sex With Men: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2020 Jan 1;180(1):117-125. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.5222.
citation: Altamirano J, Govindarajan P, Blomkalns AL, Kushner LE, Stevens BA, Pinsky BA, Maldonado Y. Assessment of Sensitivity and Specificity of Patient-Collected Lower Nasal Specimens for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2Testing. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jun 1;3(6):e2012005. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.12005.
citation: Thirumurthy H, Masters SH, Mavedzenge SN, Maman S, Omanga E, Agot K. Promoting male partner HIV testing and safer sexual decision making through secondary distribution of self-tests by HIV-negative female sex workers and women receiving antenatal and post-partum care in Kenya: a cohort study. Lancet HIV. 2016 Jun;3(6):e266-74. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3018(16)00041-2. Epub 2016 Apr 8.