Dataset from A Community Health Worker Intervention to Identify and Decrease Barriers to Pre-Procedural COVID-19 Testing Among Los Angeles County Department of Health Safety-Net Patients

Background: This study explored obstacles to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations in order to provide targeted training to Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (LACDHS) Community Health Workers (CHWs). LACDHS serves more than 750,000 patients annually and is the second largest publicly operated county safety net health care system in the United States. Timely access to health care has long been a challenge for its majority Latinx and African American patients, and this study sought to understand the specific reasons why patients refuse COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

Materials/Methods: The study used multidisciplinary and mixed-methods, combining unsupervised machine learning and qualitative interviews to identify barriers and facilitators to COVID-19 testing and vaccinations among vulnerable safety net patients. The intervention involved training clinically-based, ethnically, and linguistically matched CHWs to deliver six group classes and six personalized patient encounters with African American and Latinx patients. The study used in-depth interviews with patients who accepted or declined testing and vaccination to explore contextual, behavioral, and attitudinal factors shaping decisions. The study also used a randomized control design to assess the impact on patient trust, self-efficacy, and intent to participate in COVID-19 testing, re-testing, and vaccinations.

Outcome/Impact: The intended outcomes of the study were to increase COVID-19 testing and vaccination rates among African American and Latinx safety net patients, and to strengthen a sustained public health presence in these communities to build trust and preparedness for future critical health needs.