The Rapid Adaptation and Optimisation of a Digital Behaviour-Change Intervention to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19 in Schools

The rapid transmission of COVID-19 in school communities has been a major concern. To ensure that mitigation systems were in place and support was available, a digital intervention to encourage and facilitate infection-control behaviours was rapidly adapted and optimised for implementation as a whol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health 2022-05, Vol.19 (11), p.6731
Main Authors: Treneman-Evans, Georgia, Ali, Becky, Denison-Day, James, Clegg, Tara, Yardley, Lucy, Denford, Sarah, Essery, Rosie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acceptability
Behavior
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
COVID-19 - prevention & control
Defense
Disease transmission
Education
Humans
Hygiene
Infections
Intervention
Medical research
Meetings
Motivation
Pandemics
Perceptions
Public health
Public involvement
Public spaces
Risk perception
Schools
Social distancing
Social networks
Students
Ventilation
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Summary:The rapid transmission of COVID-19 in school communities has been a major concern. To ensure that mitigation systems were in place and support was available, a digital intervention to encourage and facilitate infection-control behaviours was rapidly adapted and optimised for implementation as a whole-school intervention. Using the person-based approach, 'Germ Defence' was iteratively adapted, guided by relevant literature, co-production with Patient and Public Involvement representatives, and think-aloud interviews with forty-five school students, staff, and parents. Suggested infection-control behaviours deemed feasible and acceptable by the majority of participants included handwashing/hand-sanitising and wearing a face covering in certain contexts, such as crowded public spaces. Promoting a sense of collective responsibility was reported to increase motivation for the adoption of these behaviours. However, acceptability and willingness to implement recommended behaviours seemed to be influenced by participants' perceptions of risk. Barriers to the implementation of recommended behaviours in school and at home primarily related to childcare needs and physical space. We conclude that it was possible to rapidly adapt Germ Defence to provide an acceptable resource to help mitigate against infection transmission within and from school settings. Adapted content was considered acceptable, persuasive, and accessible.
ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph19116731