Implementation of COVID-19 Testing Strategies in Community Health Centers

Background: This study aimed to extend the infrastructure of the Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control Equity (ISCCCE) to accelerate COVID-19 testing in nine hotspot communities in Massachusetts. ISCCCE has strong partnerships and was well-positioned to extend its community-engaged efforts to COVID-19 testing, and to build infrastructure that supported future COVID-related mitigation and prevention efforts in the vulnerable communities served by community health centers (CHCs).

Materials/Methods: The study applied an interrupted time series design to evaluate the impact of enhanced outreach on testing rates overall and among priority populations across different reopening phases and restrictions, and used an exploratory sequential mixed methods approach to conduct community-engaged pilot studies addressing barriers to testing and approaches to return of results. The Human Participant Research Unit, co-led by academic and community-based investigators, guided the work through an ethics and equity lens, while the Testing Capacity and Innovation Team provided infectious disease expertise and technical guidance, and the Community Communications Team developed culturally and linguistically appropriate materials to support testing activities.

Outcome/Impact: The study accelerated COVID-19 testing in hotspot communities through a community-engaged, equity-focused approach, leveraging CHC partnerships, outreach teams, and communication strategies. The intended impact was to increase testing rates among vulnerable populations, address key barriers to testing, and strengthen sustainable infrastructure for future COVID-19 mitigation and prevention efforts.