Qualitative Evaluation of RADx-UP Projects Addressing COVID-19 Testing Disparities Among Underserved Populations.

In this article, we present findings from a May 2022 to March 2023 qualitative evaluation of Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics-Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) projects addressing COVID-19 testing disparities among underserved populations. Interviews with academic and community partners from 13 RADx-UP projects revealed that despite the pandemic, projects were able to build trust and relationships with underserved populations. By prioritizing community voices during a public health emergency, RADx-UP projects improved health equity and pandemic preparedness in these communities, successfully conducted community-engaged research, and built long-lasting community partnerships. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S5):S410-S415. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307632).

Experiences and Lessons Learned From the RADx-UP Consortium Community Engagement Projects.

In this study, we used emerging community engagement frameworks to describe the structure and outcomes of a large-scale, community-engaged, research-to-practice initiative, RADx-UP. Qualitative methods were used to analyze survey and meeting data from 2022 for RADx-UP projects. Most projects had diverse partners, achieved moderate levels of community engagement, and experienced positive outcomes. Challenges related to engagement readiness and partnership functioning. These findings demonstrate that community engagement is measurable and valuable. However, additional support is needed to achieve the highest engagement. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(S5):S405-S409. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307615).