IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v19y2022i20p13140-d940382.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Qualitative Evaluation of the Barriers and Enablers for Implementation of an Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Testing Service at the University of Nottingham: A Multi-Site Higher Education Setting in England

Author

Listed:
  • Holly Blake

    (School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
    NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK)

  • Sarah Somerset

    (NIHR Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
    School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Ikra Mahmood

    (School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK
    School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Neelam Mahmood

    (School of Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK)

  • Jessica Corner

    (Executive Office, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Jonathan K. Ball

    (School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
    Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Chris Denning

    (School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
    Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

Abstract

Asymptomatic testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA has been used to prevent and manage COVID-19 outbreaks in university settings, but few studies have explored their implementation. The aim of the study was to evaluate how an accredited asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 testing service (ATS) was implemented at the University of Nottingham, a multi-campus university in England, to identify barriers and enablers of implementation and to draw out lessons for implementing pandemic response initiatives in higher education settings. A qualitative interview study was conducted with 25 ATS personnel between May and July 2022. Interviews were conducted online, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Participants were asked about their experience of the ATS, barriers and enablers of implementation. Transcripts were thematically analysed. There were four overarching themes: (1) social responsibility and innovation, (2) when, how and why people accessed testing, (3) impact of the ATS on the spread of COVID-19, and (4) lessons learned for the future. In establishing the service, the institution was seen to be valuing its community and socially responsible. The service was viewed to be broadly successful as a COVID-19 mitigation approach. Challenges to service implementation were the rapidly changing pandemic situation and government advice, delays in service accreditation and rollout to staff, ambivalence towards testing and isolating in the target population, and an inability to provide follow-up support for positive cases within the service. Facilitators included service visibility, reduction in organisational bureaucracy and red tape, inclusive leadership, collaborative working with regular feedback on service status, flexibility in service delivery approaches and simplicity of saliva testing. The ATS instilled a perception of early ‘return to normality’ and impacted positively on staff feelings of safety and wellbeing, with wider benefits for healthcare services and local communities. In conclusion, we identified common themes that have facilitated or hindered the implementation of a SARS-CoV-2 testing service at a university in England. Lessons learned from ATS implementation will inform future pandemic response interventions in higher education settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Holly Blake & Sarah Somerset & Ikra Mahmood & Neelam Mahmood & Jessica Corner & Jonathan K. Ball & Chris Denning, 2022. "A Qualitative Evaluation of the Barriers and Enablers for Implementation of an Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Testing Service at the University of Nottingham: A Multi-Site Higher Education Setting in England," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13140-:d:940382
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/20/13140/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/20/13140/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph T. Chang & Forrest W. Crawford & Edward H. Kaplan, 2021. "Repeat SARS-CoV-2 testing models for residential college populations," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 305-318, June.
    2. He, Hongwei & Harris, Lloyd, 2020. "The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on corporate social responsibility and marketing philosophy," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 176-182.
    3. Holly Blake & Ikra Mahmood & Gonxhe Dushi & Mehmet Yildirim & Elizabeth Gay, 2021. "Psychological Impacts of COVID-19 on Healthcare Trainees and Perceptions towards a Digital Wellbeing Support Package," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-25, October.
    4. Sigal Maya & Ryan McCorvie & Kathleen Jacobson & Priya B. Shete & Naomi Bardach & James G. Kahn, 2022. "COVID-19 Testing Strategies for K-12 Schools in California: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-13, July.
    5. Holly Blake & Holly Knight & Ru Jia & Jessica Corner & Joanne R. Morling & Chris Denning & Jonathan K. Ball & Kirsty Bolton & Grazziela Figueredo & David E. Morris & Patrick Tighe & Armando Mendez Vil, 2021. "Students’ Views towards Sars-Cov-2 Mass Asymptomatic Testing, Social Distancing and Self-Isolation in a University Setting during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-19, April.
    6. Holly Knight & Sophie Carlisle & Mórna O’Connor & Lydia Briggs & Lauren Fothergill & Amani Al-Oraibi & Mehmet Yildirim & Joanne R. Morling & Jessica Corner & Jonathan Ball & Chris Denning & Kavita Ved, 2021. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Self-Isolation on Students and Staff in Higher Education: A Qualitative Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-16, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ali Zackery & Joseph Amankwah-Amoah & Zahra Heidari Darani & Shiva Ghasemi, 2022. "COVID-19 Research in Business and Management: A Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-32, August.
    2. Moriuchi, Emi & Takahashi, Ikuo, 2022. "The role of perceived value, trust and engagement in the C2C online secondary marketplace," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 76-88.
    3. David Benjamin Billedeau & Jeffrey Wilson & Naima Samuel, 2022. "From Responsibility to Requirement: COVID, Cars, and the Future of Corporate Social Responsibility in Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, May.
    4. Changping Zhao & Juanjuan Sun & Yun Zhang, 2022. "A Study of the Drivers of Decarbonization in the Plastics Supply Chain in the Post-COVID-19 Era," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Xie, Junyi & Ifie, Kemefasu & Gruber, Thorsten, 2022. "The dual threat of COVID-19 to health and job security – Exploring the role of mindfulness in sustaining frontline employee-related outcomes," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 216-227.
    6. Imen Khanchel & Naima Lassoued & Rym Gargoury, 2023. "CSR and firm value: is CSR valuable during the COVID 19 crisis in the French market?," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 27(2), pages 575-601, June.
    7. Felipe Arenas-Torres & Miguel Bustamante-Ubilla & Roberto Campos-Troncoso, 2021. "The Incidence of Social Responsibility in the Adoption of Business Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-14, March.
    8. Nikolaos P. Rachaniotis, 2022. "Evaluating the COVID-19 Containment Protocol in Greek Universities for the Academic Year 2021–2022," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-9, November.
    9. Kochaniak, Katarzyna & Ulman, Paweł & Zajkowski, Robert, 2023. "Effectiveness of COVID-19 state aid for microenterprises in Poland," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 483-497.
    10. Qi, Yue & Liao, Kezhi & Liu, Tongyang & Zhang, Yu, 2022. "Originating multiple-objective portfolio selection by counter-COVID measures and analytically instigating robust optimization by mean-parameterized nondominated paths," Operations Research Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 9(C).
    11. Maria Johann, 2022. "CSR Strategy in Tourism during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-12, March.
    12. Rajiv Nair & P.K Viswanathan & Bettina Lynda Bastian, 2021. "Reprioritising Sustainable Development Goals in the Post-COVID-19 Global Context: Will a Mandatory Corporate Social Responsibility Regime Help?," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-16, December.
    13. Fabiane Tubino Garcia & Carla Schwengber ten Caten & Elaine Aparecida Regiani de Campos & Aline Marian Callegaro & Diego Augusto de Jesus Pacheco, 2022. "Mortality Risk Factors in Micro and Small Businesses: Systematic Literature Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-37, February.
    14. Antonietta Cosentino & Paola Paoloni, 2021. "Women’s Skills and Aptitudes as Drivers of Organizational Resilience: An Italian Case Study," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, November.
    15. Ruixin Su & Bojan Obrenovic & Jianguo Du & Danijela Godinic & Akmal Khudaykulov, 2022. "COVID-19 Pandemic Implications for Corporate Sustainability and Society: A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-23, January.
    16. Jose Ribamar Siqueira Junior & Enrique Horst & German Molina & Laura H. Gunn & Felipe Reinoso-Carvalho & Burcu Sezen & Nathalie Peña-García, 2023. "Branding in the eye of the storm: the impact of brand ethical behavior on brand commitment during the COVID-19 crisis in a South American country," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 95-115, March.
    17. Laura A. Geer & Rachel Radigan & Guilherme de Lima Bruneli & Lucas Sampaio Leite & Rosalie Barreto Belian, 2021. "COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study of Healthcare Students’ Perceptions of Life during the Pandemic in the United States and Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-12, September.
    18. Vijaya Sunder M & Anupama Prashar, 2023. "State and citizen responsiveness in fighting a pandemic crisis: A systems thinking perspective," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 170-193, January.
    19. Qiao Jian Min, 2024. "The Impact of Social Responsibility and Innovation Ecosystem of Chinese Pharmaceutical Enterprises on Innovation Performance," International Journal of Science and Business, IJSAB International, vol. 36(1), pages 84-99.
    20. Jianan Li & Xiaotong Jin & Taiyang Zhao & Tiannv Ma, 2021. "Conformity Consumer Behavior and External Threats: An Empirical Analysis in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:20:p:13140-:d:940382. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.