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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2023 Jul 1;152(Suppl 1):e2022060352H.
doi: 10.1542/peds.2022-060352H.

A COVID-19 Testing Preference Study in Schools

Jennifer E Schuster  1 , Jessie Potts  2 , Rangaraj Selvarangan  1 , Dana Keener Mast  2 , Jennifer L Goldman  1 ; School TLC Study Group
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

A COVID-19 Testing Preference Study in Schools

Jennifer E Schuster et al. Pediatrics. .

Abstract

Objectives: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies in-school COVID-19 testing as a key mitigation strategy to protect students and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both nasal and saliva samples are acceptable, but existing school guidance does not state a preferred test method.

Methods: From May 2021 through July 2021, we performed a randomized, crossover study in kindergarten through 12th grade (K-12) schools to evaluate student and staff preference for self-collected nasal or saliva testing. Participants performed both collection types and participated in a standardized questionnaire assessing the preferred method.

Results: A total of 135 students and staff participated. Staff, middle school, and high school students preferred the nasal swab (80/96, 83%), whereas elementary students were mixed (20/39, 51% preferred saliva). Reasons reported for preferring the nasal swab included being faster and easier. Reasons reported for preferring saliva included being easier and more fun. Despite their preference, 126 (93%) and 109 (81%) participants would take the nasal swab or saliva test again, respectively.

Conclusions: The anterior nasal test was the preferred testing method by students and staff, although preference varied by age group. Willingness to perform both tests again in the future was high. Identifying the preferred testing modality is important to increase acceptance and participation in COVID-19 in-school testing programs.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTEREST DISCLOSURES: Dr Schuster reports funding from Merck for unrelated studies. The other authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Nasal swab preference results. (A) Reasons participants provided for preferring the nasal swab test and (B) reasons provided for the saliva test being less preferred.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Saliva test preference results. (A) Reasons participants provided for preferring the saliva test and (B) reasons provided for the nasal swab test being less preferred.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . Operational guidance for K-12 schools and early care and education programs to support safe in-person learning. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/k-.... Accessed September 21, 2022 - PubMed
    1. Hirst JA, Logan M, Fanshawe TR, et al. Feasibility and acceptability of community coronavirus disease 2019 testing strategies (FACTS) in a university setting. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2021;8(12):ofab495. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Unger JB, Soto D, Lee R, Deva S, Shanker K, Sood N. COVID-19 testing in schools: perspectives of school administrators, teachers, parents, and students in Southern California. Health Promot Pract. 2021;24(2):350–359 - PMC - PubMed
    1. The Rockefeller Foundation and Skoll Foundation . Covid-19 testing in K-12 settings: a playbook for educators and leaders. Available at: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/The-Roc.... Accessed September 22, 2022
    1. The Shah Family Foundation . The COVID-19 educational testing toolkit. Available at: https://covidedtesting.com/. Accessed September 22, 2022

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