Community-Led Discussion for Coronavirus

Overseen By Brynn E Sheehan, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Old Dominion University

Disqualifiers: Participated in Study 1

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 17

56 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine whether community-led group discussions can change perceptions of healthcare recommendations, such as COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Participants will either join these discussions or complete surveys. The trial seeks individuals who live in specific housing areas, are 18 or older, and can participate in Zoom meetings and complete online surveys. As an unphased study, this trial offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding community impacts on healthcare perceptions.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on discussions rather than medical treatments, so you likely won't need to change your medications.

What prior data suggests that community-led discussions are safe?

Research has shown that community-led discussions effectively and safely engage people in health topics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, communities used these talks to share information and make decisions. No known risks or negative effects arise from participating in these group discussions. Instead, they provide opportunities for individuals to express opinions and learn from one another. The primary goal is to share and understand, a concept positively received in other studies. Thus, joining a community-led discussion group is generally considered safe. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the community-led discussion approach for addressing coronavirus because it emphasizes peer support and shared knowledge, which is different from typical medical or pharmacological interventions. Unlike standard treatments that focus on medication and hospital care, this method fosters empowerment by encouraging participants to engage actively in their health through conversation. This approach could enhance mental well-being and community resilience, potentially leading to better health outcomes and more informed communities. By leveraging the power of social interaction, researchers hope to uncover new insights into the psychological and social aspects of managing health during a pandemic.

What evidence suggests that community-led discussions are effective for altering beliefs and intentions regarding healthcare recommendations?

Research shows that community discussions about health issues can positively influence people's thoughts and actions, such as getting COVID-19 tests or vaccines. For example, studies have found that these discussions lead to higher vaccination rates. Such conversations help people understand and trust the information, increasing the likelihood of following health advice. One study pointed out that community involvement can change perceptions of COVID-19, leading to improved health outcomes. This occurs because people often trust information more when it comes from their community. Overall, involving communities in health discussions can lead to better-informed decisions and actions. Participants in this trial will engage in weekly community-led small group discussions about health-related topics, while others will join a non-intervention control group, completing surveys only. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kelli J England, PhD

Principal Investigator

Old Dominion University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals interested in participating in community-led discussions aimed at addressing mistrust around healthcare recommendations, specifically COVID-19 testing and vaccination.

Inclusion Criteria

Resident of one of the 9 housing authority agencies

Ability to read, speak, and understand English

I am 18 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

May not have participated in Study 1

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage in weekly community-led small group discussions about health-related topics

14 weeks

14 virtual visits

Survey and Testing

Participants complete online surveys and self-administer COVID-19 tests

4 weeks

3 virtual survey completions

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in trust, social connectedness, health literacy, and vaccine hesitancy

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Community-led discussion

Trial Overview The study is evaluating the impact of community-led group discussions on changing beliefs and intentions towards health practices like COVID-19 testing and vaccine acceptance.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants engage in weekly community-led small group discussions about health-related topics and answer surveys at 0, 14, and 18 week time points

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

non-intervention control (participants complete surveys only)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Old Dominion University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

25

Recruited

15,500+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11631882/

Effectiveness of a scenario-based, community ... We were able to calculate the effectiveness of urban community control measures (NPIs) and the impact of vaccination on disease trends.

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06650462

NCT06650462 | Evaluating a Community-Led COVID-19 ... The goal of this study is to assess how community-led group discussions about health-related topics may alter beliefs and intentions regarding healthcare ...

3. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/16549716.2025.2485523

Full article: Community engagement to support public health This paper provides much-needed evaluation knowledge on relational community engagement initiatives and their impact on COVID-19-related attitudes and ...

4. ajph.aphapublications.org ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307517

The Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Regional Teams Our findings support CEAL team efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccinations in target communities and employ community-engaged research more broadly within public ...

5. gh.bmj.com gh.bmj.com/content/5/10/e003188

Community engagement for COVID-19 prevention and ... A rapid evidence review was conducted to identify how community engagement is used for infectious disease prevention and control during epidemics.

6. wwwnc.cdc.gov wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/7/23-0932_article

Engaging Communities in Emerging Infectious Disease ... Data from the COVID-19 pandemic emphasize the central role of community dynamics in viral transmission (11,12). Community-based research ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9343721/

Global Experiences of Community Responses to COVID-19 This study systematically reviewed how communities to respond to COVID-19. The findings presented some practical and useful tips for communities still ...

8. outreach-international.org outreach-international.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Outreach_International-COVID-Report-Interactive.pdf

COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT DURING COVID-19: 9 Since the start of the pandemic, many CBOs have been identifying COVID-19 as their communities' most-pressing concern, prioritizing challenges around food ...

9. nam.edu nam.edu/perspectives/patients-families-and-communities-covid-19-impact-assessment-lessons-learned-and-compelling-needs/

Patients, Families, and Communities COVID-19 Impact ... The report concluded that community-driven solutions are necessary, as communities are in a unique position to drive priorities and actions tailored to their ...