REACH-OUT: Research, Engagement and Action on COVID-19 Health Outcomes via Testing

Background: The goal of the Research, Engagement and Action on COVID-19 Health Outcomes via Testing (REACH-OUT) study was to improve the reach, uptake, and sustainability of COVID-19 testing among underserved and socially or medically vulnerable populations via a community-based, participatory action research approach. The study focused on five populations: American Indian/Alaska Native, Urban LatinX, Rural LatinX, Urban Black or African American, and Black/Refugee.

Materials/Methods: The study engaged communities to rapidly understand key cultural beliefs, communication preferences, and community-level resources that could be leveraged to overcome social, ethical, and behavioral barriers to COVID-19 testing using mixed methods. The study also created and implemented a menu of culturally-concordant strategies at the individual, interpersonal, health system, and/or community levels to increase testing rates, contact tracing, and access to COVID-19 support services using an Intervention Mapping approach. In addition, the study evaluated the processes and testing outcomes from REACH-OUT to inform the COVID-19 response and responses to future pandemics as well as evaluate the engagement process of the study.

Outcome/Impact: This study built upon existing community engagement network infrastructure and partnerships between communities and multidisciplinary researchers to draw comparative insights about the barriers in common and unique to each population, and to generalize the findings to other communities throughout the U.S.