Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a safety protocol to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks when participating in full-capacity live mass events: a cross-sectional survey and interview-based study
Objective Investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel COVID-19 safety protocol combining professionally witnessed home-based videoed pre-event testing and a data-driven risk assessment model that was piloted at the Standon Calling Festival in July 2021.Design Observational study using a...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e063838.full |
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| author | Jack Kreindler Matthew Harris Austen El-Osta Aos Alaa Giulia Dallera |
| author_facet | Jack Kreindler Matthew Harris Austen El-Osta Aos Alaa Giulia Dallera |
| author_sort | Jack Kreindler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective Investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel COVID-19 safety protocol combining professionally witnessed home-based videoed pre-event testing and a data-driven risk assessment model that was piloted at the Standon Calling Festival in July 2021.Design Observational study using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design involving a survey, personal interviews and group discussions with a cross section of participants.Setting Standon Calling Festival, Hertfordshire, England.Participants 4726 adults who attended Standon Calling and consented to participate in the study.Results Nearly a quarter (23.1%; 1093) attendees (women 65%, men 35%) responded to the postevent survey. Eleven participants were interviewed before thematic saturation was reached. The majority (81.0%) of respondents found the at-home testing protocol convenient and of reasonable cost (73.6%). Confidence in the test result was enhanced due to professional-supported videoing (76.2%), whereas 72.6% had confidence in the security of the data. Videoed self-testing helped 45.0% of respondents to feel more confident in their lateral flow testing technique. The majority (85.5%) felt safer at the event and 93.7% agreed that the protocol did not interfere with their enjoyment of the event. Themes generated from interviews showed that the protocol could be applied to other disease areas and events, but there were concerns that over-reliance on test results alone could lead some people to have a false sense of security around the safety of the live event.Conclusions Our study showed that a protocol that combines professionally witnessed home-based videoed pre-event testing is highly acceptable and feasible, and it can inform decision making and support the safe reopening of live mass events at full capacity. Although COVID-19 is now considered endemic in the UK, this protocol can be of value for other countries where the live events industry remains heavily impacted. Risk modelling should be tested and evaluated at future events to further increase the robustness of this protocol. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-05cc506c84cc4dcab7df2cc448f2b6f3 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-05cc506c84cc4dcab7df2cc448f2b6f32025-08-20T02:14:30ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552022-12-01121210.1136/bmjopen-2022-063838Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a safety protocol to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks when participating in full-capacity live mass events: a cross-sectional survey and interview-based studyJack Kreindler0Matthew Harris1Austen El-Osta2Aos Alaa3Giulia Dallera4Centre for Health and Human Performance, London, UKclinical reader in public healthDepartment of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UKSelf-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU), Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London Faculty of Medicine, London, UKDepartment of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UKObjective Investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel COVID-19 safety protocol combining professionally witnessed home-based videoed pre-event testing and a data-driven risk assessment model that was piloted at the Standon Calling Festival in July 2021.Design Observational study using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design involving a survey, personal interviews and group discussions with a cross section of participants.Setting Standon Calling Festival, Hertfordshire, England.Participants 4726 adults who attended Standon Calling and consented to participate in the study.Results Nearly a quarter (23.1%; 1093) attendees (women 65%, men 35%) responded to the postevent survey. Eleven participants were interviewed before thematic saturation was reached. The majority (81.0%) of respondents found the at-home testing protocol convenient and of reasonable cost (73.6%). Confidence in the test result was enhanced due to professional-supported videoing (76.2%), whereas 72.6% had confidence in the security of the data. Videoed self-testing helped 45.0% of respondents to feel more confident in their lateral flow testing technique. The majority (85.5%) felt safer at the event and 93.7% agreed that the protocol did not interfere with their enjoyment of the event. Themes generated from interviews showed that the protocol could be applied to other disease areas and events, but there were concerns that over-reliance on test results alone could lead some people to have a false sense of security around the safety of the live event.Conclusions Our study showed that a protocol that combines professionally witnessed home-based videoed pre-event testing is highly acceptable and feasible, and it can inform decision making and support the safe reopening of live mass events at full capacity. Although COVID-19 is now considered endemic in the UK, this protocol can be of value for other countries where the live events industry remains heavily impacted. Risk modelling should be tested and evaluated at future events to further increase the robustness of this protocol.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e063838.full |
| spellingShingle | Jack Kreindler Matthew Harris Austen El-Osta Aos Alaa Giulia Dallera Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a safety protocol to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks when participating in full-capacity live mass events: a cross-sectional survey and interview-based study BMJ Open |
| title | Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a safety protocol to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks when participating in full-capacity live mass events: a cross-sectional survey and interview-based study |
| title_full | Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a safety protocol to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks when participating in full-capacity live mass events: a cross-sectional survey and interview-based study |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a safety protocol to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks when participating in full-capacity live mass events: a cross-sectional survey and interview-based study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a safety protocol to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks when participating in full-capacity live mass events: a cross-sectional survey and interview-based study |
| title_short | Evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a safety protocol to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission risks when participating in full-capacity live mass events: a cross-sectional survey and interview-based study |
| title_sort | evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of a safety protocol to mitigate sars cov 2 transmission risks when participating in full capacity live mass events a cross sectional survey and interview based study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/12/e063838.full |
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