Public’s understanding of swab test results for SARS-CoV-2: an online behavioural experiment during the April 2020 lockdown
Autor: | Stefania Pighin, Katya Tentori |
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Jazyk: | angličtina |
Rok vydání: | 2021 |
Předmět: |
Male
Result interpretation statistics & research methods False positives and false negatives Psychological intervention lcsh:Medicine Probabilistic reasoning Negative predictive value COVID-19 Testing 0302 clinical medicine Nasopharynx Prevalence False positive paradox Medicine 030212 general & internal medicine Young adult False Negative Reactions General Medicine Middle Aged Diagnostic test COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Test result Positive predictive value Bare-rate neglect Base-rate fallacy Reasoning Result understanding Test (assessment) Italy Social Isolation Predictive value of tests Female Viral load Adult Adolescent Specimen Handling Young Adult primary care 03 medical and health sciences Predictive Value of Tests Humans False Positive Reactions Aged Clinical Laboratory Techniques business.industry lcsh:R Medical Education and Training business 030217 neurology & neurosurgery Demography |
Zdroj: | BMJ Open, Vol 11, Iss 1 (2021) BMJ Open |
ISSN: | 2044-6055 |
Popis: | ObjectiveAlthough widespread testing for SARS-CoV-2 is in place, little is known about how well the public understands these results. We aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the general public’s grasp of the accuracy and significance of the results of the swab test.DesignWeb-based behavioural experiment.SettingItaly during the April 2020 lockdown.Participants566 Italian residents.Main outcome measuresParticipants’ estimates of the SARS-CoV-2 prevalence; the predictive and diagnostic accuracy of the test; the behavioural impact of (positive vs negative) test results; the perceived usefulness of a short-term repetition of the test following positive or negative results; and rankings of causes for false positives and false negatives.ResultsMost participants considered the swab test useful (89.6%) and provided predictive values consistent with their estimates of test diagnostic accuracy and infection prevalence (67.0%). Participants acknowledged the effects of symptomatic status and geographical location on prevalence (all pConclusionsWhile some aspects of the swab for SARS-CoV-2 are well grasped, others are not and may have a strong bearing on the general public’s health and well-being. The obtained findings provide policymakers with a detailed picture that can guide the design and implementation of interventions for improving efficient communication with the general public as well as adherence to precautionary behaviour. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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