Digital Tools to Expand COVID-19 Testing in Exposed Individuals in Cameroon
- Conditions
- COVID-19
- Interventions
- Other: Digital based contact tracing
- Registration Number
- NCT05684887
- Lead Sponsor
- Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
- Brief Summary
According to the WHO, contact tracing - along with robust testing, isolation, and care of cases is a key strategy for interrupting chains of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and reducing mortality associated with COVID-19. Contact tracing, however, has a number of challenges. These include incomplete identification of contacts, inefficiencies in paper-based reporting systems, complex data management requirements, and delays in the identification of contacts and testing of contacts. In many settings, contact tracing has proven to be too resource-intensive to implement at scale, especially with higher levels of community transmission, highlighting the need for more efficient contact tracing approaches. Digital tools afford the possibility of strengthening contact tracing for COVID-19, in a more efficient way. However, there is limited evidence of the effectiveness and impact of these tools in the COVID-19 response, including contact tracing.
This study proposes to compare the cascade of care between two strategies for COVID-19 contact tracing of SARS-CoV-2 infected index patients in Cameroon. In one strategy (intervention), the health facilities and health district testing units will implement contact tracing using a digital tool developed to support the tracing and testing of contacts (addition of a digital contact tracing module to the main platform for COVID-19 testing in Cameroon (Mamal Pro app)). This strategy will be compared to the standard contact tracing process (control), based on the current routine approach (use of the Mamal Pro application without the digital contact tracing module).
- Detailed Description
The study's general objective is to assess the effectiveness, feasibility, acceptability, and cost associated with the addition of a Mamal Pro digital contact tracing module to the Mamal Pro app in improving COVID-19 contact tracing and testing in Littoral, Cameroon.
Specific objectives are:
1. Primary objective: To determine the effectiveness of the use of a Mamal Pro digital contact tracing module added to the Mamal Pro app in improving COVID-19 contact tracing and testing compared to the SOC as measured by:
* The number and proportion of reported contacts who received SARS-CoV-2 testing.
* The number and proportion of contacts who are successfully reached by phone by MOH district contact tracing unit.
* The number and proportion of contacts testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
* The time from SARS-CoV-2 infected index patient identification of contacts to communication with the contact by the district contact tracing unit.
2. Secondary objectives:
* To assess the feasibility and acceptability of the use of the Mamal Pro digital contact tracing module through structured interviews with MOH facility staff, district unit contract tracing teams, and individuals undergoing SARS-CoV-2 testing.
* To estimate the total cost of using the Mamal Pro contact tracing module for tracing SARS-CoV2 positive case contacts and cost per contact traced using the module.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 433
- All contacts listed by individuals registered in the Mamal Pro app for testing, who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the selected health district testing units and health facilities in Cameroon.
- None
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Intervention model (ITV) Digital based contact tracing Implementation of the contact tracing using a digitalized process (addition of the Mamal Pro digital contact tracing module to the Mamal Pro app).
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Successful contact tracing 10 days The primary outcome is the proportion of contacts declared by the index case who are successfully called by the district contact tracing unit and the proportion of contacts who receive SARS-CoV-2 testing, as per MOH standard testing procedures.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Timely communication with contacts 4 months Time (days) between receipt of contact list and contacts' call attempts
Acceptability intervention model of contact tracing by the index cases (negative and positive) and health care workers 4 months * satisfaction of using the Mamal Pro digital contact tracing module compared with the usual standard of care approach
* challenges with this approach to contact tracing
* suggestions for improvement.Contacts testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. 10 days The proportion of contacts testing positive for SARS-CoV2 infection
Cost of the intervention 4 months Cost estimates for using Mamal Pro digital contact tracing module to trace contacts, and cost per contact traced.
SMS sent 4 months Proportion of SMS delivered, (numerator: SMS sent, denominator: phone numbers)
Feasibility of the intervention model of contact tracing 4 months * ease of use
* time to complete the process in the Mamal Pro digital contact tracing module
* integration with other clinic activities
Trial Locations
- Locations (22)
Mbangue District COVID testing unit
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
CMA Bonamoussadi
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Bonanjo Integrated Health Center
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Bonassama district hospital
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Bonassama District COVID testing unit
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
CitΓ© des palmiers District COVID testing unit
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
CitΓ© des palmiers district hospital
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
CMA Soboum hospital
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
CMA Nyala
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Deido District COVID testing unit
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
General Hospital Douala
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Gynecological-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital Douala (HGOPED)
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Deido district hospital
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Japoma District COVID testing unit
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Logbaba district hospital
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Laquintinie Hospital
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Logbaba District COVID testing unit
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Mboppi Baptist hospital
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Nylon district hospital
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
New Bell District COVID testing unit
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
New Bell district hospital
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon
Nylon District COVID testing unit
π¨π²Douala, Littoral, Cameroon