From pilot study to practice: Integrating medical students into COVID-19 contact tracing in a hospital setting

This paper addresses a timely and significant issue in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact tracing played a crucial role in reducing transmission rates. The challenges faced in inpatient settings are valuable to explore. A pilot study involving medical students revealed gaps in engagement...

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Main Authors: Mohamed Morgan, Oscar Han, Katie Hullock, Steve Pagden, Mair Richards, Rachel Foster
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Future Healthcare Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2514664524016102
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author Mohamed Morgan
Oscar Han
Katie Hullock
Steve Pagden
Mair Richards
Rachel Foster
author_facet Mohamed Morgan
Oscar Han
Katie Hullock
Steve Pagden
Mair Richards
Rachel Foster
author_sort Mohamed Morgan
collection DOAJ
description This paper addresses a timely and significant issue in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact tracing played a crucial role in reducing transmission rates. The challenges faced in inpatient settings are valuable to explore. A pilot study involving medical students revealed gaps in engagement with the NHS Test and Trace service. An Inpatient Contact Tracing Team (IPCT) was formed to address this issue. Medical students later assisted in contact tracing.The study was conducted from September to November 2021 and involved 305 inpatients with COVID-19.This initiative demonstrates the benefits of involving medical students in inpatient contact tracing for public health gain and education. The students also engaged in community initiatives, addressing barriers to vaccination in disadvantaged areas. A demographic analysis revealed patterns which guided vaccine education efforts by the IPCT.This collaboration between healthcare professionals and medical students showcases the adaptability of medical education in the face of global health challenges.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2514-6645
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Future Healthcare Journal
spelling doaj-art-7e5462ae63fd47cb980c8c9e5ed6dd3d2025-08-20T01:55:41ZengElsevierFuture Healthcare Journal2514-66452025-03-0112110022010.1016/j.fhj.2024.100220From pilot study to practice: Integrating medical students into COVID-19 contact tracing in a hospital settingMohamed Morgan0Oscar Han1Katie Hullock2Steve Pagden3Mair Richards4Rachel Foster5School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, UKSchool of Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK; Corresponding author.Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UKSheffield Community Contact Tracers, Sheffield, UKSheffield Community Contact Tracers, Sheffield, UKDepartment of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UKThis paper addresses a timely and significant issue in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact tracing played a crucial role in reducing transmission rates. The challenges faced in inpatient settings are valuable to explore. A pilot study involving medical students revealed gaps in engagement with the NHS Test and Trace service. An Inpatient Contact Tracing Team (IPCT) was formed to address this issue. Medical students later assisted in contact tracing.The study was conducted from September to November 2021 and involved 305 inpatients with COVID-19.This initiative demonstrates the benefits of involving medical students in inpatient contact tracing for public health gain and education. The students also engaged in community initiatives, addressing barriers to vaccination in disadvantaged areas. A demographic analysis revealed patterns which guided vaccine education efforts by the IPCT.This collaboration between healthcare professionals and medical students showcases the adaptability of medical education in the face of global health challenges.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2514664524016102Medical educationPandemicCOVID-19Contact tracingPublic healthCommunity engagement
spellingShingle Mohamed Morgan
Oscar Han
Katie Hullock
Steve Pagden
Mair Richards
Rachel Foster
From pilot study to practice: Integrating medical students into COVID-19 contact tracing in a hospital setting
Future Healthcare Journal
Medical education
Pandemic
COVID-19
Contact tracing
Public health
Community engagement
title From pilot study to practice: Integrating medical students into COVID-19 contact tracing in a hospital setting
title_full From pilot study to practice: Integrating medical students into COVID-19 contact tracing in a hospital setting
title_fullStr From pilot study to practice: Integrating medical students into COVID-19 contact tracing in a hospital setting
title_full_unstemmed From pilot study to practice: Integrating medical students into COVID-19 contact tracing in a hospital setting
title_short From pilot study to practice: Integrating medical students into COVID-19 contact tracing in a hospital setting
title_sort from pilot study to practice integrating medical students into covid 19 contact tracing in a hospital setting
topic Medical education
Pandemic
COVID-19
Contact tracing
Public health
Community engagement
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2514664524016102
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