RADx-UP Testing Core: Access to COVID-19 Diagnostics in Community-Engaged Research with Underserved Populations.

Research on the COVID-19 pandemic revealed a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 infection and death among underserved populations and exposed low rates of SARS-CoV-2 testing in these communities. A landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding initiative, the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) program, was developed to address the research gap in understanding the adoption of COVID-19 testing in underserved populations. This program is the single largest investment in health disparities and community-engaged research in the history of the NIH. The RADx-UP Testing Core (TC) provides community-based investigators with essential scientific expertise and guidance on COVID-19 diagnostics. This commentary describes the first 2 years of the TC's experience, highlighting the challenges faced and insights gained to safely and effectively deploy large-scale diagnostics for community-initiated research in underserved populations during a pandemic. The success of RADx-UP shows that community-based research to increase access and uptake of testing among underserved populations can be accomplished during a pandemic with tools, resources, and multidisciplinary expertise provided by a centralized testing-specific coordinating center. We developed adaptive tools to support individual testing strategies and frameworks for these diverse studies and ensured continuous monitoring of testing strategies and use of study data. In a rapidly evolving setting of tremendous uncertainty, the TC provided essential and real-time technical expertise to support safe, effective, and adaptive testing. The lessons learned go beyond this pandemic and can serve as a framework for rapid deployment of testing in response to future crises, especially when populations are affected inequitably.

Comparative Evaluation of 2 Work Experience Approaches for Predominantly Black Youth in a Rural Community: Implications for Public Health Workforce Development.

CONTEXT: In order to create a more diverse workforce, there is a need to involve historically excluded youth in public health-related work. Youth involvement in asset-based work experience approaches is especially relevant for rural areas with workforce shortages. OBJECTIVE: To explore the public health workforce development implications of community-based career exploration and asset mapping work experience from the perspective of Black youth. DESIGN: We used qualitative in-depth interviews with youth, aged 14 to 22 years, who participated in a work experience program anchored in several rural counties in southeastern United States. A phenomenological lens was applied for qualitative analyses with iterative, team-based data coding. Participants were also surveyed pre- and postprogram to supplement findings. PROGRAM: A rural community-based organization's work experience program consisted of 2 tracks: (1) Youth Connect-a career exploration track that included work placement within community agencies; and (2) MAPSCorps-a track that employs youth to conduct asset mapping for their community. RESULTS: We interviewed 28 of 31 total participants in the 2 tracks. We uncovered 4 emergent profiles in how youth described shifts in their perceptions of community: (1) Skill Developers; (2) Community Questioners; (3) Community Observers; and (4) Community Enthusiasts. In comparing between tracks, youth who participated in work experience that involved asset mapping uniquely described increased observation and expanded view of community resources and had greater increases in research self-efficacy than youth who participated only in career exploration. CONCLUSION: Asset mapping work experience that is directly placed in rural communities can expose Black youth to and engage them in essential public health services (assessing and mobilizing community assets) that impact their community. This type of program, directly integrated into rural communities rather than placed near academic centers, could play a role in creating a more diverse public health workforce.

"If you're in a community together, then you're basically a family": Perceptions of community among a predominantly African-American/Black youth cohort in a semi-rural region in the Southeastern United States.

Geographic racism gives rise to health inequities that impact communities in detrimental ways. Southern ethnic minority groups, particularly African American/Black semi-rural communities, are subject to especially unjust outcomes in health, education, and wealth. Asset-based community development (ABCD) is a way of engaging with communities in participatory and positive ways that center community voices as expert. Youth can participate in ABCD, are sensitive to the ways in which their communities are structured, and have insights as to how to improve the places they live. We undertook a qualitative interview study which included a cognitive mapping exercise with 28 youth to understand how African American/Black youth who had participated in an ABCD-informed summer program conceptualized community and preferences about where they lived. Using a phenomenological approach to qualitative analysis, our study revealed that many youth defined community as a combination of people and place, enjoyed engaging with unique resources in their communities as well as seeking peace and quiet, experienced hardships as "something everybody knows" when observing constraints on their communities, and were committed to their communities and interested in seeing-and participating in-their flourishing. Our study provides a nuanced and contemporary understanding of the ways in which African American/Black semi-rural youth experience community which can contribute to cyclical asset-based development strategy aimed at empowering young people and improving health outcomes in resilient communities.

Advancing Health Equity Through Equity-Centered Leadership Development with Interprofessional Healthcare Teams.

INTRODUCTION: Events of spring 2020-the COVID19 pandemic and re-birth of a social justice movement-have thrown disparities in disease risk, morbidity, and mortality in sharp relief. In response, healthcare organizations have shifted attentions and resources towards equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) issues and initiatives like never before. Focused, proven equity-centered skill and mindset development is needed for healthcare professionals to operationalize these pledges and stated aims. AIM: This article highlights program evaluation results for this Clinical Scholars National Leadership Institute (CSNLI) specific to EDI. We will show that CSNLI imparts the valuable and essential skills to health professionals that are needed to realize health equity through organizational and system change. SETTING: Initial cohort of 29 participants in CSNLI, engaging in the program over 3 years through in-person and distance-based learning offerings and activities. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The CSNLI is a 3-year, intensive leadership program that centers EDI skill development across personal, interpersonal, organizational, and systems domains through its design, competencies, and curriculum. PROGRAM EVALUATION: A robust evaluation following the Kirkpatrick Model offers analysis of four data collecting activities related to program participants' EDI learning, behavioral change, and results. DISCUSSION: Over the course of the program, participants made significant gains in competencies related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Furthermore, participants demonstrated growth in behavior change and leadership activities in the areas of organizational and system change. Results demonstrate the need to center both leader and leadership development on equity, diversity, and inclusion curriculum to make real change in the US Healthcare System.

Practical Approaches for Promoting Health Equity in Communities.

The Maternal and Child Health workforce, public health practitioners, researchers, and other groups need clear, practical guidance on how to promote health equity in the communities they serve. The National Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development Center's Health Equity Team synthesized eight approaches for promoting health equity that drew on their experience working with public health practitioners and communities. The approaches are to: Expand the understanding of the drivers of health and work across sectors; Take a systems approach; Reflect on your own organization; Follow the lead of communities who experience injustices; Work with community members, decision-makers, and other stakeholders to prioritize action; Foster agency within individuals and collective action within groups; Identify and collect data to show where health inequities currently exist to inform equitable investment of resources; and Be accountable to outcomes that reflect real improvements in people's lives. The fields of maternal and child health and public health more broadly is already engaged in the complex work of promoting equity and social justice, and in doing so, should refine, challenge, add to, and build upon these approaches.

Racial disparities in stroke incidence in the Women's Health Initiative: Exploring biological, behavioral, psychosocial, and social risk factors.

Background: - Disparities in incident stroke risk among women by race and ethnicity persist. Few studies report the distribution and association of stroke risk factors by age group among a diverse sample of women. Methods: - Data from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study collected between 1993 and 2010 were used to calculate cumulative stroke incidence and incidence rates among non-Hispanic African American (NHAA), non-Hispanic white (NHW), and Hispanic white or African American (HWAA) women by age group in participants aged ≥50 years at baseline (N = 77,247). Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for biological, behavioral, psychosocial, and socioeconomic factors overall and by race or ethnicity were estimated using sequential Cox proportional hazard regression models. Results: - Average follow-up time was 11.52 (SD, 3.48) years. The incident stroke rate was higher among NHAA (306 per 100,000 person-years) compared to NHW (279/100,000py) and HWAA women (147/100,000py) overall and in each age group. The disparity was largest at ages >75 years. The association between stroke risk factors (e.g., smoking, BMI, physical activity) and incident stroke varied across race and ethnicity groups. Higher social support was significantly associated with decreased stroke risk overall (HR:0.84, 95% CI, 0.76, 0.93); the degree of protection varied across race and ethnicity groups. Socioeconomic factors did not contribute additional stroke risk beyond risk conferred by traditional and psychosocial factors. Conclusions: - The distribution and association of stroke risk factors differed between NHAA and NHW women. There is a clear need for stroke prevention strategies that address factors driving racial disparities in stroke risk.

State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Policies and Substance Use Rates.

INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity is associated with the development of substance misuse and use disorders (SUD). This study sought to estimate associations between state Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility policies and substance-related outcomes. METHODS: 2014-2017 SNAP Policy Database and 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health state-level estimates were used to estimate associations between state SNAP eligibility policies and alcohol use disorder (AUD), opioid misuse, illicit drug use disorder (IDUD), SUD, and needing but not receiving SUD treatment. State SNAP policies included those that (1) do not disqualify individuals with a felony drug conviction from SNAP and/or (2) expand SNAP eligibility by increasing the income limit or removing the asset test. Analyses were conducted January-May 2023. RESULTS: States that adopted both SNAP eligibility policies had reduced rates of AUD (adjusted rate ratio (aRR): 0.92; 95% CI 0.86, 0.99), opioid misuse (aRR: 0.94; 95% CI 0.89, 0.98), IDUD (aRR: 0.91; 95% CI 0.85, 0.98), SUD (aRR: 0.91; 95% CI 0.85, 0.97), and needing but not receiving SUD treatment (aRR: 0.92; 95% CI 0.87, 0.98) compared to states with neither policy. Among states that did not adopt increases to the income limit or removal of the asset test, those that removed the felony drug disqualification had lower rates of IDUD, SUD, and needing but not receiving SUD treatment, compared to those that maintained a disqualification. CONCLUSIONS: Expanded SNAP eligibility could help reduce rates of substance misuse and SUD. Opting out of the federal disqualification on SNAP participation for those with felony drug convictions may be particularly beneficial.

Protocol of the HARMONY study: A culturally relevant, randomized-controlled, stress management intervention to reduce cardiometabolic risk in African American women.

BACKGROUND: African American Women (AAW) are at high risk for stress-related cardiometabolic (CM) conditions including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Prior interventions lack attention to culturally-nuanced stress phenomena (Superwoman Schema [SWS], contextualized stress, and network stress), which are positively and significantly associated with unhealthy eating and sedentary behavior. PURPOSE: The HARMONY Study is designed to test a culturally tailored mindfulness-based stress management intervention to address SWS, contextualized stress, and network stress as potential barriers to adherence to healthy exercise and eating goals. The study will help AAW build on their strengths to promote cardiometabolic health by enhancing positive reappraisal, self-regulation, and self-efficacy as protective factors against chronic stress-inducing biobehavioral morbidity and mortality risk. METHODS: This two-arm, randomized-controlled trial will test the effects of two group-based, online interventions. HARMONY 1 includes culturally-tailored exercise and nutrition education. HARMONY 2 includes mindfulness-based stress reduction, exercise, and nutrition education. We aim to recruit 200 AAW ≥ 18 years old with CM risk. RESULTS: Primary outcomes (actigraphy and carotenoid levels) and secondary outcomes (body composition, inflammatory markers, glucose metabolism, and stress) are being collected at baseline and 4-, 8-, and 12-months post-intervention. Intent-to-treat, data analytic approaches will be used to test group differences for the primary outcomes. DISCUSSION: This study is the first to address culturally-nuanced stress phenomena in AAW (SWS, network stress, and contextualized stress) using culturally-tailored stress management, exercise, and nutrition educational approaches to reduce biobehavioral CM risk among AAW. Quantitative and qualitative results will inform the development of scalable and sustainable CM risk-reduction programming for AAW. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Multiple PIs registered the clinical trial (Identifier: NCT04705779) and reporting of summary results in ClinicalTrials.gov in accordance with the NIH Policy on the Dissemination of NIH-Funded Clinical Trial Information, within the required timelines.

Contextualizing physical activity in rural adults: Do relationships between income inequality, neighborhood environments, and physical activity exist?

OBJECTIVE: To examine if income inequality, social cohesion, and neighborhood walkability are associated with physical activity among rural adults. DATA SOURCE: Cross-sectional data came from a telephone survey (August 2020-March 2021) that examined food access, physical activity, and neighborhood environments across rural counties in a southeastern state. STUDY DESIGN: Multinomial logistic regression models assessed the likelihood of being active versus inactive and insufficiently active versus inactive in this rural population. Coefficients are presented as relative risk ratios (RRRs). Statistical significance was determined using 95% confidence intervals (CIs). All analyses were performed in STATA 16.1. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Trained university students administered the survey. Students verbally obtained consent, read survey items, and recorded responses into Qualtrics software. Upon survey completion, respondents were mailed a $10 incentive card and printed informed consent form. Eligible participants were ≥18 years old and current residents of included counties. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Respondents in neighborhoods with relatively high social cohesion versus low social cohesion were more likely to be active than inactive (RRR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.27-4.90, p < 0.01), after accounting for all other variables in the model. Income inequality and neighborhood walkability were not associated with different levels of physical activity in the rural sample. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings contribute to limited knowledge on the relationship between neighborhood environmental contexts and physical activity among rural populations. The health effects of neighborhood social cohesion warrant more attention in health equity research and consideration when developing multilevel interventions to improve the health of rural populations.

Accelerating diversity, equity, and inclusion goals: a qualitative assessment from the lens of scientists at the 2020 Clinical Translational Science Awards Annual Meeting.

Participants in the leadership breakout session at the Clinical Translational Science Awards (CTSA) virtual 2020 conference discussed and ranked six recommendations in terms of feasibility, impact, and priority for advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts to elevate underrepresented populations to leadership positions in CTSAs and their broader institutions. A thematic analysis of chat and polling data identified challenges and opportunities to achieve DEI goals, with the three most promising recommendations as: cross-institutional Principal Investigator (P.I.) action-learning workgroups, transparent policies for recruiting and promoting underrepresented minorities (URM) leadership, and a clear succession plan to nurture and elevate URM leaders. Suggestions are made to improve DEI in CTSA leadership and allow for greater representation in the translational science field.

A Systematic Review of Electronic Community Resource Referral Systems.

INTRODUCTION: Community Resource Referral Systems delivered electronically through healthcare information technology systems (e.g., electronic medical records) have become more common in efforts to address patients' unmet health-related social needs. Community Resource Referral System connects patients with social supports such as food assistance, utility support, transportation, and housing. This systematic review identifies barriers and facilitators that influence the Community Resource Referral System's implementation in the U.S. by identifying and synthesizing peer-reviewed literature over a 15-year period. METHODS: This systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. A search was conducted on five scientific databases to capture the literature published between January 2005 and December 2020. Data analysis was conducted from August 2021 to July 2022. RESULTS: This review includes 41 articles of the 2,473 initial search results. Included literature revealed that Community Resource Referral Systems functioned to address a variety of health-related social needs and were delivered in different ways. Integrating the Community Resource Referral Systems into clinic workflows, maintenance of community-based organization inventories, and strong partnerships between clinics and community-based organizations facilitated implementation. The sensitivity of health-related social needs, technical challenges, and associated costs presented as barriers. Overall, electronic medical records-integration and automation of the referral process was reported as advantageous for the stakeholders. DISCUSSION: This review provides information and guidance for healthcare administrators, clinicians, and researchers designing or implementing electronic Community Resource Referral Systems in the U.S. Future studies would benefit from stronger implementation science methodological approaches. Sustainable funding mechanisms for community-based organizations, clear stipulations regarding how healthcare funds can be spent on health-related social needs, and innovative governance structures that facilitate collaboration between clinics and community-based organizations are needed to promote the growth and sustainability of Community Resource Referral Systems in the U.S.

Adapting the Evidence Academy model for virtual stakeholder engagement in a national setting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic raised the importance of adaptive capacity and preparedness when engaging historically marginalized populations in research and practice. The Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics in Underserved Populations' COVID-19 Equity Evidence Academy Series (RADx-UP EA) is a virtual, national, interactive conference model designed to support and engage community-academic partnerships in a collaborative effort to improve practices that overcome disparities in SARS-CoV-2 testing and testing technologies. The RADx-UP EA promotes information sharing, critical reflection and discussion, and creation of translatable strategies for health equity. Staff and faculty from the RADx-UP Coordination and Data Collection Center developed three EA events with diverse geographic, racial, and ethnic representation of attendees from RADx-UP community-academic project teams: February 2021 (n = 319); November 2021 (n = 242); and September 2022 (n = 254). Each EA event included a data profile; 2-day, virtual event; event summary report; community dissemination product; and an evaluation strategy. Operational and translational delivery processes were iteratively adapted for each EA across one or more of five adaptive capacity domains: assets, knowledge and learning, social organization, flexibility, and innovation. The RADx-UP EA model can be generalized beyond RADx-UP and tailored by community and academic input to respond to local or national health emergencies.

Association of State Expansion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility With Rates of Child Protective Services-Investigated Reports.

Importance: States in the US have the option to eliminate the asset test and/or increase the income limit for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility under a policy called broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE). Given associations of economic hardships, including food insecurity, with child protective services (CPS) involvement, state adoption of these policies may be associated with changes in rates of CPS-investigated reports. Objective: To examine the association of state elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit for SNAP eligibility under BBCE with rates of CPS-investigated reports. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional ecologic study used data from 2006 to 2019 obtained from the SNAP Policy Database and the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Child Files and difference-in-differences analyses. The data were analyzed from March to September 2022. The study used CPS-investigated reports for suspected child abuse and neglect from 37 US states to examine elimination of the asset test, from 36 states to examine increases in the income limit, and from 26 states to examine adoption of both policies. Exposures: State elimination of the asset test, increases in the income limit, and adoption of both policies to expand SNAP eligibility. Main Outcomes and Measures: Number of CPS-investigated reports, overall and specifically for neglect and physical abuse, per 1000 child population. Results: From 2006 to 2019 for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, there were a total of 29 213 245 CPS-investigated reports. By race and ethnicity, 19.8% of CPS-investigated reports were among non-Hispanic Black children and 45.7% among non-Hispanic White children (hereafter referred to as Black and White children). On average, there were 8.2 fewer CPS-investigated reports (95% CI, -12.6 to -4.0) per 1000 child population per year in states that eliminated the asset test, 5.0 fewer CPS-investigated reports (95% CI, -10.8 to 0.7) per 1000 child population per year in states that increased the income limit, and 9.3 fewer CPS-investigated reports (95% CI, -15.6 to -3.1) per 1000 child population per year in states that adopted both SNAP policies than there would have been if these states had not adopted these policies. There were decreases in CPS-investigated reports for neglect in states that adopted either or both policies, and small decreases in CPS-investigated reports for physical abuse in states that increased the income limit or adopted both policies. There were decreases in CPS-investigated reports among both Black and White children. For example, there were 6.5 fewer CPS-investigated reports among Black children (95% CI, -14.6 to 1.6) and 8.7 fewer CPS-investigated reports among White children (95% CI, -15.8 to -1.6) in states that adopted both SNAP policies than there would have been if these states had not adopted these policies. Conclusions and Relevance: Results from this cross-sectional study suggest that state expansion of SNAP eligibility through elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit may contribute to decreases in rates of CPS-investigated reports. These results can inform ongoing debates regarding SNAP policy options, specifically BBCE, and prevention efforts for child abuse and neglect.

Association of State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Eligibility Policies With Adult Mental Health and Suicidality.

Importance: Food insecurity is associated with an increased likelihood of poor mental health and suicidality. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest program addressing food insecurity in the US; under broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE), states have the option to expand SNAP eligibility to a greater number of households by eliminating the asset test or increasing the income limit for eligibility. Objectives: To examine the association of state elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit for SNAP eligibility with rates of mental health and suicidality outcomes among adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This ecological cross-sectional study used 2014 to 2017 data on US adults from the National Vital Statistics System and 2015 to 2019 data on US adults from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) State-Level Small Area Estimates. Analyses were conducted between September and November 2022. Exposures: State elimination of the asset test only and state adoption of both SNAP eligibility policies (ie, state elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit) for 2014 to 2017 from the SNAP Policy Database. Main Outcomes and Measures: Number of adults with a past-year major depressive disorder, mental illness, serious mental illness, or suicidal ideation and number of adults who died by suicide. Results: Analyses included 407 391 adult NSDUH participants and 173 085 adults who died by suicide. State elimination of the asset test only was associated with decreased rates of past-year major depressive episodes (rate ratio [RR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.98) and mental illness (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.97) among adults. State adoption of both SNAP eligibility policies (ie, state elimination of the asset test and increases in the income limit) was associated with decreased rates of past-year major depressive episodes (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.99), mental illness (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.98), serious mental illness (RR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.99), and suicidal ideation (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.82-0.96). Results suggested a decreased rate of suicide death (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.84-1.02) in states with both policies compared with states with neither policy, although this result was not statistically significant. Conclusions and Relevance: State adoption of policies that expand SNAP eligibility may contribute to decreased rates of multiple mental health and suicidality outcomes at the population level.

Exploring barriers and facilitators of implementing an at-home SARS-CoV-2 antigen self-testing intervention: The Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) initiatives.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating community-based programs provides value to researchers, funding entities, and community stakeholders involved in program implementation, and can increase program impact and sustainability. To understand factors related to program implementation, we aimed to capture the perspective of community partners engaged in organizing and executing community-engaged programs to distribute COVID-19 at-home tests in underserved communities. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews and focus groups with community-based stakeholders informed by the Outcomes for Implementation Research framework. RESULTS: Findings describe how community-engaged communication and dissemination strategies drove program adoption among grassroots stakeholders. Establishing and sustaining trusted relationships was vital to engaging partners with aligned values and capacity. Respondents characterized the programs as generally feasible and appropriate, and community partners felt capable of delivering the program successfully. However, they also described an increased burden on their workforce and desired more significant support. Respondents recognized the programs' community engagement practices as a critical facilitator of acceptability and impact. DISCUSSION: Implementation evaluation aims to inform current and future community outreach and engagement efforts with best practices. As we continue to inform and advance community-engaged disaster response practice, a parallel reimagining of public health funding mechanisms and timelines could provide a foundation for trust, collaboration, and community resiliency that endures beyond a given crisis.

Evaluating Leadership Development Competencies of Clinicians to Build Health Equity in America.

INTRODUCTION: To achieve more equitable health, health care must be grounded in an understanding of social determinants of health. Clinicians need hands-on, equity-centered training in interdisciplinary settings where they can further develop leadership skills and apply learnings in real-time. The Clinical Scholars program trained five cohorts of health care professionals in 25 leadership development competencies to contribute toward advancing health equity within the organizations and communities where they work. This study describes the self-reported ratings of three dimensions of competencies within four domains. METHODS: Data from 169 Fellows were collected at three time-points during the three-year training program using Qualtrics and Research Electronic Data Captrue software. Analysis was conducted in R and included descriptive statistics, fitting a linear mixed-effects model using random intercepts, and paired-sample t tests to assess significance between baseline and endpoint ratings. RESULTS: We found improved ratings over time for each of the three competency dimensions (knowledge, self-efficacy, use) and significant differences in ratings from baseline to endpoint, by domain (personal, interpersonal, organizational, community, and systems). DISCUSSION: These findings support the effectiveness of an equity-centered leadership development curriculum in training health care professionals to address health challenges in their communities and organizations, thereby furthering the broader goal of achieving more equitable health for all.

Access to COVID-19 testing by individuals with housing insecurity during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States: a scoping review.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic focused attention on healthcare disparities and inequities faced by individuals within marginalized and structurally disadvantaged groups in the United States. These individuals bore the heaviest burden across this pandemic as they faced increased risk of infection and difficulty in accessing testing and medical care. Individuals experiencing housing insecurity are a particularly vulnerable population given the additional barriers they face. In this scoping review, we identify some of the barriers this high-risk group experienced during the early days of the pandemic and assess novel solutions to overcome these barriers. Methods: A scoping review was performed following PRISMA-Sc guidelines looking for studies focusing on COVID-19 testing among individuals experiencing housing insecurity. Barriers as well as solutions to barriers were identified as applicable and summarized using qualitative methods, highlighting particular ways that proved effective in facilitating access to testing access and delivery. Results: Ultimately, 42 studies were included in the scoping review, with 143 barriers grouped into four categories: lack of cultural understanding, systemic racism, and stigma; medical care cost, insurance, and logistics; immigration policies, language, and fear of deportation; and other. Out of these 42 studies, 30 of these studies also suggested solutions to address them. Conclusion: A paucity of studies have analyzed COVID-19 testing barriers among those experiencing housing insecurity, and this is even more pronounced in terms of solutions to address those barriers. Expanding resources and supporting investigators within this space is necessary to ensure equitable healthcare delivery.