151 A Pragmatic Randomized Trial of Home-based testing for COVID-19 in Rural Native American and Latino Communities: Primary results of the Protecting Our Communities Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: To test the effect of a trusted Community Health Worker (CHW) support model to increase accessibility, feasibility and completion of COVID-19 home-testing in Native American and Latino communities. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We conducted a multi-site pragmatic randomized controlled trial among adult Native Americans and Latinos from the Flathead reservation in Montana and Yakima Valley in Washington. Participants were block randomized by site location and age to either an active or passive study arm. Participants in the active arm received assistance with online COVID-19 test kit registration and virtual swabbing support from CHWs, while the passive study arm received the standard-of-care support from the COVID-19 home testing kit vendor. Simple and multivariate logistic regression modeled the association between home-testing distribution mechanism and test completion. Multivariate models included community and sex as covariates. Descriptive feedback was collected in a post-test survey. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Overall, 63% of the 268 enrolled participants completed COVID-19 tests, and 50% completed tests yielding a valid result. Active arm participants had significantly higher odds of test completion (OR 1.66, 95% CI: [1.01, 2.75], p-value=0.04). Differences were most pronounced among adults ≥60 years, with 84% completing testing kits in the active arm, compared to 58% in the passive arm (p=0.07). Ease of use and not having to leave home were top positive aspects of the home-based test while transporting and mailing samples to lab and long/overwhelming instructions were cited as negative aspects. Most test completers (93%) were satisfied with their experience and 95% found CHW assistance useful. Sample expiration and insufficient identifiers were top causes of non-valid test results. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: While test completion rates were low in both study arms, the CHW support led to a higher COVID-19 test completion rate, particularly among older adults. Still, CHW support alone does not fully eliminate testing barriers. Socio-economic differences must be accounted for in future product development for home-based testing to improve health equity.