Leveraging Social Networks to Increase COVID-19 Testing Uptake

NCT04873401 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: 8153UG1DA050071-04S1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 498
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This two-year project will adapt and conduct a trial examining the ability of two recruitment strategies, chain-referral and credible messenger, to reach those who use opioids and other substances in order to increase their uptake of onsite point of care COVID-19 testing that will be delivered in two community based organizations (CBOs): Alliance for Positive Change and Argus Health Inc. In Phase 1, Adapt two implementation strategies to support COVID-19 testing uptake and sustainability, adapting elements of existing efficacious social network-based interventions via a CBPR approach. In Phase 2, we will examine and compare the efficacy of two sets of implementation strategies on (i) reach, (ii) testing uptake, (iii) service delivery (i.e. quarantine, medical care, contact tracing) and (iv) sustainability for individuals who use opioids and other drugs. In Phase 3, Elucidate and compare the system/organizational-, staff-, and individual-level factors that influence implementation (i.e. fidelity, acceptability, feasibility, sustainability) of the strategies to develop a plan for dissemination and scale-up in other CBOs who serve opioid and other substance using individuals in NYC.

Conditions

Covid-19; Substance Use; Opioid Use

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Participants Who Agreed to Take a COVID-19 Rapid Test of Those Enrolled

  Number of participants who agreed to take a COVID-19 rapid test out of those who were enrolled (n=498)

  Baseline

• Mean Number of COVID-19 Rapid Tests Taken

  Mean number of COVID-19 rapid tests taken among those who took at least 1 test (n=478)

  Baseline

• Uptake of the Recruitment Strategy Into the Community

  Total number of coupons redeemed (Chain referral arm) out of coupons delivered OR total number of people approached in the community via credible messengers (Credible messenger arm) who enrolled in the study

  Baseline

• Reach of the Recruitment Strategy Into the Community

  Number of people reached or approached via coupon (CR) based on number of coupons distributed or via peer/direct contact (CM), who may or may not have enrolled in the study

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Participant Acceptability of Recruitment Strategy and Testing Program Scale

  Baseline

• Sustainability of the Testing Program

  Sustainment

• Feasibility of Recruitment and Testing Protocols

  Sustainment

Study Arms (2)

Chain Referral

EXPERIMENTAL

In the chain-referral intervention, a discrete number of "seeds" will be recruited from the community partners, trained and incentivized to recruit and refer members of their social networks to receive COVID-19 testing; these recruits are then trained to do the same.

Behavioral: Chain-referral

Credible Messenger

EXPERIMENTAL

In the credible messenger intervention, peers identified as popular and socially influential individuals within their respective communities with lived experience are trained to engage within formal and informal social networks to promote behavior change.

Behavioral: Credible Messenger

Interventions

Chain-referral BEHAVIORAL

In the chain-referral intervention, a discrete number of "seeds" will be recruited from the community partners, trained and incentivized to recruit and refer members of their social networks to receive COVID-19 testing. The peer recruiters are paid for each suvcessful and eligible recruit who enrolls to be tested. Those individuals are then themselves trained to recruit peers from their social networks to receive COVID-19 testing. This is repeated over a period of 4-6 months.

Chain Referral

Credible Messenger BEHAVIORAL

In the credible messenger intervention, peers noted to be popular and socially influential individuals with lived experience will be trained to engage within community settings and areas to encourage community members to receive COVID-19 testing at the community partnering agencies. Peers will recruit community members over a period of 4-6 months.

Credible Messenger

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Endorse opioid use in the past 6 months
• Speak English or Spanish
• Age 18+

You may not qualify if:

• Deny history of opioid use (but will be offered COVID-19 testing)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• New York State Psychiatric Institute: lead
• Alliance for Postive Change: collaborator
• Argus Community Inc.: collaborator
• Columbia University: collaborator
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

New York State Psychiatric Institute

New York, New York, 10032, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19; Substance-Related Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Chemically-Induced Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Katherine Elkington
• Organization: New York State Psychiatric Institute

ke2143@cumc.columbia.edu

16467746965

Study Officials

• Katherine Elkington, PhD

  New York State Psychiatric Institute

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Scientist

Model Details: Groups are randomly assigned to either condition/arm; after 6 months they each cross over into the other arm

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 24, 2021
• First Posted: May 5, 2021
• Study Start: April 20, 2021
• Primary Completion: March 18, 2022
• Study Completion: January 1, 2023
• Last Updated: April 21, 2026
• Results First Posted: April 18, 2023

Record last verified: 2026-03

Locations

US (1)