A Community-Based Participatory Research Approach to Developing and Testing Social and Behavioural Interventions to Reduce the Spread of SARS-CoV-2: A Protocol for the ‘ COPAR for COVID ’ Programme of Research with Five Interconnected Studies in the Hong Kong Context

Alex Molassiotis (), Yao Jie Xie, Angela Y. M. Leung, Grace W. K. Ho, Yan Li, Polly Hang-Mei Leung, Hua Li Wang, Catherine Xiao Rui Chen, Danny W. K. Tong, Judy Yuen-man Siu and Joseph T. F. Lau
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Alex Molassiotis: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Yao Jie Xie: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Angela Y. M. Leung: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Grace W. K. Ho: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Yan Li: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Polly Hang-Mei Leung: Department of Health Technology & Informatics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Hua Li Wang: Department of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Hong Kong West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong SAR, China
Catherine Xiao Rui Chen: Queen Elisabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
Danny W. K. Tong: Hospital Authority, Hong Kong SAR, China
Judy Yuen-man Siu: Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
Joseph T. F. Lau: Centre for Health Behaviours Research, Jockey Club School of Public Health & Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-29

Abstract: Background: While a number of population preventive measures for COVID-19 exist that help to decrease the spread of the virus in the community, there are still many areas in preventative efforts that need improvement or refinement, particularly as new strains of the virus develop. Some of the key issues currently include incorrect and/or inconsistent use of face masks, low acceptance of early screening or vaccination for COVID-19, vaccine hesitance, and misinformation. This is particularly the case in some vulnerable populations, such as older people with chronic illnesses, ethnic minorities who may not speak the mainstream language well and children. The current protocol introduces a large programme of research through five interrelated studies that all focus on social and behavioural interventions to improve different aspects of community-related preventative indicators. Hence, the specific objectives of the overall programme are to (1) increase early testing for COVID-19 and promote the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in the community (Study 1); (2) increase COVID-19-related health literacy and vaccine literacy and promote improved preventative measures in minority ethnic groups, chronically ill populations and caregivers (Study 2); (3) strengthen the public’s motivation to stay at home and avoid nonessential high-risk activities (Study 3); (4) decrease COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (Study 4); and (5) enhance the adherence to COVID-19-related hygiene practices and the uptake of early testing in school children (Study 5). Methods: We will utilise a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach in the proposed studies. All studies will incorporate an intervention development phase in conjunction with key community stakeholders, a feasibility study and an execution stage. A variety of self-reported and objective-based measures will be used to assess various outcomes, based on the focus of each study, in both the short- and long-term, including, for example, the 8-item self-reported eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEAL) and objective measures such as vaccine uptake. Discussion: Theory-driven interventions will address each study’s focus (e.g., social distancing, promotion of vaccine uptake, eHealth education, preventive measures and early detection). Improvements are expected to be seen in the outcomes of vulnerable and high-risk groups. Decreased infection rates are expected due to improved preventative behaviours and increased vaccine uptake. Long-term sustainability of the approach will be achieved through the CBPR model. The publication of this protocol can assist not only in sharing a large-scale and complex community-based design, but will also allow all to learn from this, so that we will have better insight in the future whether sharing of study designs can elicit timely research initiatives.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; community-based participatory research; social intervention; behavioural intervention; community intervention; health literacy; vaccine hesitancy; vaccination; early testing; prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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