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Utilization of at-home tests for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among healthcare workers in Chicago
Nathaly Valdivia1, Lisa R Hirschhorn2, Thanh-Huyen Vu3
1Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Insights
Healthcare workers (HCWs) increasingly used at-home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tests, with positivity rising. Exposure to non-patients significantly correlated with higher testing and positive results.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread testing strategies.
- At-home testing offers convenience but requires understanding utilization patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the utilization of at-home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing among healthcare workers (HCWs).
- To identify factors associated with at-home COVID-19 testing and positive results.
Main Methods:
- A serial cross-sectional study was conducted using online surveys from April to November 2022.
- Healthcare workers in the Chicago area (N=3,569) participated, with response rates of 62.4% in April.
- Multivariable Poisson regression analyzed associations between participant characteristics and home testing/positivity.
Main Results:
- In April 2022, 26.6% of HCWs reported at-home COVID-19 testing, with 5.9% positive.
- Testing rates increased to 36.4% in June and decreased to 25% by November.
- Positive tests were significantly associated with exposure to non-patients (P < .001).
Conclusions:
- At-home COVID-19 testing and positive results increased among HCWs from April to November 2022.
- Exposure to individuals outside of clinical settings was a key factor in increased testing and positivity.
- Findings highlight the role of community exposure in HCW testing behaviors during evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Objective:
To describe utilization of at-home coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing among healthcare workers (HCW).
Design:
Serial cross-sectional study.
Setting And Participants:
HCWs in the Chicago area.
Methods:
Serial surveys were conducted from the Northwestern Medicine (NM HCW SARS-CoV-2) Serology Cohort Study. In April 2022, participants reflected on the past 30 days to complete an online survey regarding COVID-19 home testing. Surveys were repeated in June and November 2022. The percentage of completed home tests and ever-positive tests were reported. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to calculate prevalence rate ratios (PRR) and univariate analysis was used for association between participant characteristics with home testing and positivity.
Results:
Overall, 2,226 (62.4%) of 3,569 responded to the survey in April. Home testing was reported by 26.6% of respondents and 5.9% reported having at least one positive home test. Testing was highest among those 30-39 years old (35.9%) and nurses (28.3%). A positive test was associated (P < .001) with exposure to people, other than patients with known or suspected COVID-19. Home testing increased in June to 36.4% (positivity 19.9%) and decreased to 25% (positivity 13.5%) by November.
Conclusion:
Our cohort findings show the overall increase in both home testing and ever positivity from April to November - a period where changes in variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 were reported nationwide. Having an exposure to people, other than patients with known or suspected COVID-19 was significantly associated with both, higher home testing frequency and ever-test positivity.
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