"All of the things to everyone everywhere": A mixed methods analysis of community perspectives on equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.
<h4>Background</h4>Neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for COVID-19 prevents hospitalization and death but is underused, especially in racial/ethnic minority and rural populations. Reasons for underuse and inequity may include community member lack of awareness or healthcare...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274043 |
| _version_ | 1797978091798134784 |
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| author | Bethany M Kwan Chelsea Sobczak Carol Gorman Samantha Roberts Vanessa Owen Matthew K Wynia Adit A Ginde Griselda Pena-Jackson Owen Ziegler Lisa Ross DeCamp |
| author_facet | Bethany M Kwan Chelsea Sobczak Carol Gorman Samantha Roberts Vanessa Owen Matthew K Wynia Adit A Ginde Griselda Pena-Jackson Owen Ziegler Lisa Ross DeCamp |
| author_sort | Bethany M Kwan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for COVID-19 prevents hospitalization and death but is underused, especially in racial/ethnic minority and rural populations. Reasons for underuse and inequity may include community member lack of awareness or healthcare access barriers, among others. This study assessed mAbs community awareness and opportunities for improving equitable mAb access.<h4>Methods</h4>A concurrent mixed methods study including surveys and focus groups with adults with high-risk conditions or their proxy decision-makers. Surveys and focus group guides addressed diffusion of innovation theory factors. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact method was used to report and compare survey findings by race and ethnicity. Rapid qualitative methods were used for focus group analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Surveys from 515 individuals (460 English, 54 Spanish, 1 Amharic), and 8 focus groups (6 English, 2 Spanish) with 69 participants, completed June 2021 to January 2022. Most survey respondents (75%) had heard little or nothing about mAbs, but 95% would consider getting mAb treatment. Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic People of Color (POC) reported less awareness, greater concern about intravenous infusions, and less trust in mAb safety and effectiveness than White, Non-Hispanic respondents. Focus group themes included little awareness but high interest in mAb treatment and concerns about cost and access barriers such as lacking established sources of care and travel from rural communities. Focus groups revealed preferences for broad-reaching but tailored messaging strategies using multiple media and trusted community leaders.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Despite unfamiliarity with mAb treatment, most respondents were open to receiving mAbs or recommending mAbs to others. While mAb messaging should have broad reach "to everyone everywhere," racial and geographic disparities in awareness and trust about mAbs underscore need for tailored messaging to promote equitable access. Care processes should address patient-level barriers like transportation, insurance, or primary care access. COVID-19 treatment dissemination strategies should promote health equity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:17:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-91abd02354db4cc69c07c2593da9aa18 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:17:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-91abd02354db4cc69c07c2593da9aa182022-12-24T05:33:00ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-011711e027404310.1371/journal.pone.0274043"All of the things to everyone everywhere": A mixed methods analysis of community perspectives on equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19.Bethany M KwanChelsea SobczakCarol GormanSamantha RobertsVanessa OwenMatthew K WyniaAdit A GindeGriselda Pena-JacksonOwen ZieglerLisa Ross DeCamp<h4>Background</h4>Neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment for COVID-19 prevents hospitalization and death but is underused, especially in racial/ethnic minority and rural populations. Reasons for underuse and inequity may include community member lack of awareness or healthcare access barriers, among others. This study assessed mAbs community awareness and opportunities for improving equitable mAb access.<h4>Methods</h4>A concurrent mixed methods study including surveys and focus groups with adults with high-risk conditions or their proxy decision-makers. Surveys and focus group guides addressed diffusion of innovation theory factors. Descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact method was used to report and compare survey findings by race and ethnicity. Rapid qualitative methods were used for focus group analysis.<h4>Results</h4>Surveys from 515 individuals (460 English, 54 Spanish, 1 Amharic), and 8 focus groups (6 English, 2 Spanish) with 69 participants, completed June 2021 to January 2022. Most survey respondents (75%) had heard little or nothing about mAbs, but 95% would consider getting mAb treatment. Hispanic/Latino and Non-Hispanic People of Color (POC) reported less awareness, greater concern about intravenous infusions, and less trust in mAb safety and effectiveness than White, Non-Hispanic respondents. Focus group themes included little awareness but high interest in mAb treatment and concerns about cost and access barriers such as lacking established sources of care and travel from rural communities. Focus groups revealed preferences for broad-reaching but tailored messaging strategies using multiple media and trusted community leaders.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Despite unfamiliarity with mAb treatment, most respondents were open to receiving mAbs or recommending mAbs to others. While mAb messaging should have broad reach "to everyone everywhere," racial and geographic disparities in awareness and trust about mAbs underscore need for tailored messaging to promote equitable access. Care processes should address patient-level barriers like transportation, insurance, or primary care access. COVID-19 treatment dissemination strategies should promote health equity.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274043 |
| spellingShingle | Bethany M Kwan Chelsea Sobczak Carol Gorman Samantha Roberts Vanessa Owen Matthew K Wynia Adit A Ginde Griselda Pena-Jackson Owen Ziegler Lisa Ross DeCamp "All of the things to everyone everywhere": A mixed methods analysis of community perspectives on equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19. PLoS ONE |
| title | "All of the things to everyone everywhere": A mixed methods analysis of community perspectives on equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19. |
| title_full | "All of the things to everyone everywhere": A mixed methods analysis of community perspectives on equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19. |
| title_fullStr | "All of the things to everyone everywhere": A mixed methods analysis of community perspectives on equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19. |
| title_full_unstemmed | "All of the things to everyone everywhere": A mixed methods analysis of community perspectives on equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19. |
| title_short | "All of the things to everyone everywhere": A mixed methods analysis of community perspectives on equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19. |
| title_sort | all of the things to everyone everywhere a mixed methods analysis of community perspectives on equitable access to monoclonal antibody treatment for covid 19 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0274043 |
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