TY - JOUR
T1 - Participant perceptions and experiences of a novel community-based respiratory longitudinal sampling method in Liverpool, UK
T2 - A mixed methods feasibility study
AU - German, Esther L.
AU - Nabwera, Helen M.
AU - Robinson, Ryan
AU - Shiham, Farah
AU - Liatsikos, Kostas
AU - Parry, Christopher M.
AU - McNamara, Claire
AU - Kattera, Sanjana
AU - Carter, Katie
AU - Howard, Ashleigh
AU - Pojar, Sherin
AU - Hamilton, Joshua
AU - Matope, Agnes
AU - Read, Jonathan M.
AU - Allen, Stephen J.
AU - Hill, Helen
AU - Hawcutt, Daniel B.
AU - Urban, Britta C.
AU - Collins, Andrea M.
AU - Ferreira, Daniela M.
AU - Nikolaou, Elissavet
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 German et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - Longitudinal, community-based sampling is important for understanding prevalence and transmission of respiratory pathogens. Using a minimally invasive sampling method, the FAMILY Micro study monitored the oral, nasal and hand microbiota of families for 6 months. Here, we explore participant experiences and opinions. A mixed methods approach was utilised. A quantitative questionnaire was completed after every sampling timepoint to report levels of discomfort and pain, as well as time taken to collect samples. Participants were also invited to discuss their experiences in a qualitative structured exit interview. We received questionnaires from 36 families. Most adults and children >5y experienced no pain (94% and 70%) and little discomfort (73% and 47% no discomfort) regardless of sample type, whereas children ≤5y experienced variable levels of pain and discomfort (48% no pain but 14% hurts even more, whole lot or worst; 38% no discomfort but 33% moderate, severe, or extreme discomfort). The time taken for saliva and hand sampling decreased over the study. We conducted interviews with 24 families. Families found the sampling method straightforward, and adults and children >5y preferred nasal sampling using a synthetic absorptive matrix over nasopharyngeal swabs. It remained challenging for families to fit sampling into their busy schedules. Adequate fridge/freezer space and regular sample pickups were found to be important factors for feasibility. Messaging apps proved extremely effective for engaging with participants. Our findings provide key information to inform the design of future studies, specifically that self-sampling at home using minimally invasive procedures is feasible in a family context.
AB - Longitudinal, community-based sampling is important for understanding prevalence and transmission of respiratory pathogens. Using a minimally invasive sampling method, the FAMILY Micro study monitored the oral, nasal and hand microbiota of families for 6 months. Here, we explore participant experiences and opinions. A mixed methods approach was utilised. A quantitative questionnaire was completed after every sampling timepoint to report levels of discomfort and pain, as well as time taken to collect samples. Participants were also invited to discuss their experiences in a qualitative structured exit interview. We received questionnaires from 36 families. Most adults and children >5y experienced no pain (94% and 70%) and little discomfort (73% and 47% no discomfort) regardless of sample type, whereas children ≤5y experienced variable levels of pain and discomfort (48% no pain but 14% hurts even more, whole lot or worst; 38% no discomfort but 33% moderate, severe, or extreme discomfort). The time taken for saliva and hand sampling decreased over the study. We conducted interviews with 24 families. Families found the sampling method straightforward, and adults and children >5y preferred nasal sampling using a synthetic absorptive matrix over nasopharyngeal swabs. It remained challenging for families to fit sampling into their busy schedules. Adequate fridge/freezer space and regular sample pickups were found to be important factors for feasibility. Messaging apps proved extremely effective for engaging with participants. Our findings provide key information to inform the design of future studies, specifically that self-sampling at home using minimally invasive procedures is feasible in a family context.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85176420983&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0294133
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0294133
M3 - Article
C2 - 37943741
AN - SCOPUS:85176420983
SN - 1932-6203
VL - 18
JO - PLoS ONE
JF - PLoS ONE
IS - 11 November
M1 - e0294133
ER -