Public understanding of COVID-19 antibody testing and test results: A qualitative study conducted in the U.K. early in the pandemic

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113778

. 2021 Mar:273:113778.

doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113778. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Public understanding of COVID-19 antibody testing and test results: A qualitative study conducted in the U.K. early in the pandemic

Jan Lecouturier¹, Michael P Kelly², Fiona Graham³, Carly Meyer⁴, Mei Yee Tang⁵, Louis Goffe⁶, Chris Bonell⁷, Susan Michie⁸, Falko F Sniehotta⁹

Affiliations

¹ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: jan.lecouturier@newcastle.ac.uk.
² Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK. Electronic address: mk744@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
³ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: Fiona.Graham@newcastle.ac.uk.
⁴ Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK. Electronic address: carly.meyer@ucl.ac.uk.
⁵ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: Meiyee.Tang@newcastle.ac.uk.
⁶ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: Louis.Goffe@newcastle.ac.uk.
⁷ Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK. Electronic address: chris.bonell@lstm.ac.uk.
⁸ Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK. Electronic address: s.michie@ucl.ac.uk.
⁹ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: falko.sniehotta@newcastle.ac.uk.

PMID: 33636445
PMCID: PMC7884253
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113778

Public understanding of COVID-19 antibody testing and test results: A qualitative study conducted in the U.K. early in the pandemic

Jan Lecouturier et al. Soc Sci Med. 2021 Mar.

. 2021 Mar:273:113778.

doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113778. Epub 2021 Feb 16.

Authors

Jan Lecouturier¹, Michael P Kelly², Fiona Graham³, Carly Meyer⁴, Mei Yee Tang⁵, Louis Goffe⁶, Chris Bonell⁷, Susan Michie⁸, Falko F Sniehotta⁹

Affiliations

¹ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: jan.lecouturier@newcastle.ac.uk.
² Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK. Electronic address: mk744@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
³ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: Fiona.Graham@newcastle.ac.uk.
⁴ Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK. Electronic address: carly.meyer@ucl.ac.uk.
⁵ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: Meiyee.Tang@newcastle.ac.uk.
⁶ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: Louis.Goffe@newcastle.ac.uk.
⁷ Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, 15-17 Tavistock Place, London, WC1H 9SH, UK. Electronic address: chris.bonell@lstm.ac.uk.
⁸ Centre for Behaviour Change, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK. Electronic address: s.michie@ucl.ac.uk.
⁹ Population and Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, Richardson Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE2 4AX, UK. Electronic address: falko.sniehotta@newcastle.ac.uk.

PMID: 33636445
PMCID: PMC7884253
DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113778

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, antibody testing was proposed by several countries as a surveillance tool to monitor the spread of the virus and potentially to ease restrictions. In the UK, antibody testing originally formed the third pillar of the UK Government's COVID-19 testing programme and was thought to offer hope that those with a positive antibody test result could return to normal life. However, at that time scientists and the public had little understanding of the longevity of COVID-19 antibodies, and whether they provided immunity to reinfection or transmission of the virus.

Objective: This paper explores the UK public's understanding of COVID-19 testing, perceived test accuracy, the meaning of a positive test result, willingness to adhere to restrictive measures in response to an antibody test result and how they expect other people to respond.

Methods: On-line synchronous focus groups were conducted in April/May 2020 during the first wave of the pandemic and the most stringent period of the COVID-19 restrictive measures. Data were analysed thematically.

Results: There was confusion in responses as to whether those with a positive or negative test should return to work and which restrictive measures would apply to them or their household members. Participants raised concerns about the wider public response to positive antibody test results and the adverse behavioural effects. There were worries that antibody tests could create a divided society particularly if those with a positive test result were given greater freedoms or chose to disregard the restrictive measures.

Conclusion: Should these tests be offered more widely, information should be developed in consultation with the public to ensure clarity and address uncertainty about test results and subsequent behaviours.

Keywords: Antibody testing; COVID-19; Pandemics; Public health; Public views; Qualitative research methods; UK.

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References

1. Archibald M.M., Ambagtsheer R.C., Casey M.G., Lawless M. Using Zoom videoconferencing for qualitative data collection: perceptions and experiences of researchers and participants. Int. J. Qual. Methods. 2019;18
1. Armstrong S. Why covid-19 antibody tests are not the game changer the UK government claims. BMJ. 2020;369:m2469. - PubMed
1. Baraniuk C. COVID-19 antibody tests: a briefing. BMJ. 2020;369 https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2284 - PubMed
1. BBC . 2020. ‘Coronavirus: Antibody Test 'ready for Production by June'. 3 May, 2020. BBC News.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52510194 [online] Available at:
1. Braun V., Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual. Res. Psychol. 2006;3:77–101.

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[1] Archibald M.M., Ambagtsheer R.C., Casey M.G., Lawless M. Using Zoom videoconferencing for qualitative data collection: perceptions and experiences of researchers and participants. Int. J. Qual. Methods. 2019;18

[2] Archibald M.M., Ambagtsheer R.C., Casey M.G., Lawless M. Using Zoom videoconferencing for qualitative data collection: perceptions and experiences of researchers and participants. Int. J. Qual. Methods. 2019;18

[3] Armstrong S. Why covid-19 antibody tests are not the game changer the UK government claims. BMJ. 2020;369:m2469. - PubMed

[4] Armstrong S. Why covid-19 antibody tests are not the game changer the UK government claims. BMJ. 2020;369:m2469. - PubMed

[5] Baraniuk C. COVID-19 antibody tests: a briefing. BMJ. 2020;369 https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2284 - PubMed

[6] Baraniuk C. COVID-19 antibody tests: a briefing. BMJ. 2020;369 https://www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m2284 - PubMed

[7] BBC . 2020. ‘Coronavirus: Antibody Test 'ready for Production by June'. 3 May, 2020. BBC News.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52510194 [online] Available at:

[8] BBC . 2020. ‘Coronavirus: Antibody Test 'ready for Production by June'. 3 May, 2020. BBC News.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52510194 [online] Available at:

[9] Braun V., Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual. Res. Psychol. 2006;3:77–101.

[10] Braun V., Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual. Res. Psychol. 2006;3:77–101.

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Public understanding of COVID-19 antibody testing and test results: A qualitative study conducted in the U.K. early in the pandemic

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Public understanding of COVID-19 antibody testing and test results: A qualitative study conducted in the U.K. early in the pandemic

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