Epidemiologic Intelligence Network (EpI-Net) to Promote COVID-19 Testing

NCT04910542 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 3R21MD013674-02S2
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 3,301
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators propose a mixed-methods intervention design to evaluate the acceptability of epidemic intelligence (EpI-Net) intervention using Community Engagement (CE) principles to promote COVID-19 testing and prevention practices in socially vulnerable communities in PR. The team hypothesizes that the integration of lay community leaders, trained in the use of COVID-19 prevention technology tools (EpI-Net), will result in increased COVID-19 testing uptake and prevention practices among the targeted socially and epidemiologically vulnerable communities in Puerto Rico.

Conditions

Covid19

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change COVID-19 testing uptake

  By June 2022, EpI-Net intervention will have provided 2,700 COVID-19 RT-PCR tests among six socially vulnerable communities in PR. 1. Tabulation of PCR tests by test ID and date of sample collection. 2. Tabulation of PCR test results received by the molecular laboratory. i.COVID-19 test results by EpI-NET uploaded to REDCap servers. c.TESTING ASSESSMENT i.% of participants who received a COVID-19 RT-PCR tests for the first time. 1. Have you ever been tested for COVID-19? 1. No 2. Yes 3. Prefer not to answer 2. How did you get tested for your most recent test? 1. Nasal Swab (Antigen) 2. Swab in the nose and throat (PCR) 3. Blood 4. Saliva

  Five months per community

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Change Covid-19 positivity rates <5%

  Five months per community

• Covid-19 prevention practices awareness of >25%

  Five months per community

• Covid-19 prevention practices uptake of >25%

  Five months per community

Study Arms (1)

EpI-Net community intervention

OTHER

The Epidemiological Intelligence Network Intervention (Epi-Net) is a group of field epidemiology tools for test, trace and isolate using a community-based approach. The overall goal of Epi-Net is to increase uptake of COVID-19 testing and prevention practices among socially vulnerable communities in Puerto Rico. The intervention intends to impact COVID-19 risk perception, decrease COVID-19 testing barriers, increase testing uptake and increase health promotion strategies.

Other: Epi-Net Intervention

Interventions

Epi-Net Intervention OTHER

The Epidemiological Intelligence Network Intervention (Epi-Net) is a group of field epidemiology tools for test, trace and isolate using a community-based approach. The overall goal of Epi-Net is to increase uptake of COVID-19 testing and prevention practices among socially vulnerable communities in Puerto Rico. The intervention intends to impact COVID-19 risk perception, decrease COVID-19 testing barriers, increase testing uptake and increase health promotion strategies.

EpI-Net community intervention

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• In-depth Interview Participants' Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility criteria for the qualitative interviews will be: (1) \>21 years old, (2) living in a socially vulnerable community for COVID-19 according to the CDC-SVI (Ref); (3) self-identified as a Latino/Hispanic; (4) be part of the participant municipalities at the RCMI-CEC program or PRPHT network and (5) be able to complete an interview.
• Communities' Eligibility Criteria: Based on factors associated with COVID-19 complications such as high chronic disease prevalence (including obesity rates), age group distribution, population density and socioeconomic status, and COVID-19 positivity rates, we will preliminarily identify potential municipalities to be impacted by this project.Those preliminar municipalities are: Ponce, Guánica, Vieques, San Juan, Loíza, Vega Alta, Aibonito, Yauco, Mayagüez and Naranjito. Once municipalities are identified, the team will rely on the CDC-SVI index to identify the communities (within these municipalities) with higher socially vulnerability.
• Community Survey Eligibility Criteria: The eligibility criteria for the community survey will be: (1) \>21 years old, (2) living in a socially vulnerable community for COVID-19 according to the CDC-SVI (Ref); (3) self-identified as a Latino/Hispanic; (4) be part of the participant municipalities at the RCMI-CEC program or PRPHT network and (5) be able to complete an interview.
• Epidemiological Syndromic Surveillance System (ESSS) Eligibility Criteria: Participants eligible to complete the ESSS are residents of Puerto Rico, 18 years of age and older.

You may not qualify if:

• Children and adolescents are excluded from participation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ponce Medical School Foundation, Inc.: lead
• Duke University: collaborator
• Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Ponce Medical School Foundation

Ponce, Puerto Rico, 00717, Puerto Rico

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Marzan-Rodriguez M, Muniz-Rodriguez K, Morales LM, Martinez IS, Torres-Borrero N, Castro-Figueroa EM. Epidemiological intelligence community network intervention: a community response for COVID-19 community transmission. BMC Public Health. 2023 Jun 1;23(1):1044. doi: 10.1186/s12889-023-15727-3.

  PMID: 37264399 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19

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

Study Officials

• Eida M Castro, PsyD

  Ponce Medical School Foundation

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This study employs a mixed-methods design for intervention trials. This method is appropriate for epidemiological interventions framed under community engagement practices.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2021
• First Posted: June 2, 2021
• Study Start: March 9, 2021
• Primary Completion: May 31, 2023
• Study Completion: May 31, 2023
• Last Updated: March 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-03

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

PR (1)