Dataset from Community Network-driven COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination of Vulnerable Populations in the Central US (C3)

Background: The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate a community network-driven COVID-19 testing approach for vulnerable populations across the Central United States. The study targeted two groups disproportionately impacted by COVID-19: criminal justice-involved individuals and low-income Latinx community members. The approach combined an evidence-based Social Network Testing Strategy (SNS) with community-developed COVID-19 messages designed to correct misinformation and reinforce personal agency. This strategy aimed to increase testing uptake among populations experiencing high levels of infection, misinformation, stigma, and distrust of traditional testing systems.

Materials/Methods: This study was conducted across rural and urban sites in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Indiana, and Illinois. Researchers leveraged the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network, existing community testing programs, and longstanding community partnerships to recruit and enroll participants. The intervention adapted SNS which relied on participants to recruit members of their social networks for testing. Two message types of misinformation correction and self-affirmation were developed with community partners and integrated into the enhanced intervention (SNS+). The study used adaptive randomization to compare SNS+ against standard SNS by assessing the number of network members who completed COVID-19 testing. Implementation strategies were evaluated using the RE-AIM framework, including feasibility, acceptability, adoption, and cost. Data collection involved participant recruitment records, network recruitment chains, testing uptake, and implementation metrics gathered through community-based program partners.

Outcome/Impact: The study findings informed how misinformation correction and self-affirmation messages influenced testing behaviors in criminal justice-involved individuals and low-income Latinx communities. The RE-AIM evaluation produced insights into implementation processes, cost considerations, and scalability. This study strengthened community-academic partnerships and contributed a tested, adaptable model for accelerating COVID-19 prevention efforts in populations least reached by traditional public health systems.