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Appraisal of a Contact Tracing Training Program for COVID-19 in Greece Focusing on Vulnerable Populations

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Riza

    (Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology & Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Eleni Kakalou

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Evangelia Nitsa

    (Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology & Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Mikras Asias 75, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Ioannis Hodges-Mameletzis

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Paraskevi Goggolidou

    (Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK)

  • Agis Terzidis

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Eleni Cardoso

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Karl Philipp Puchner

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Zisimos Solomos

    (Hellenic Red Cross, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Anastasia Pikouli

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Eleni-Panagiota Stoupa

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Christina Kakalou

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Evika Karamagioli

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

  • Emmanouil Pikoulis

    (Postgraduate Programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine”, Medical School National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Dilou 1 Street, 11527 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

Background: Contact tracing as an epidemiological strategy has repeatedly contributed to the containment of various past epidemics and succeeded in controlling the spread of disease in the community. Systematic training of contact tracers is crucial in ensuring the effectiveness of epidemic containment. Methods: An intensive training course was offered to 216 health and other professionals who work with vulnerable population groups, such as Roma, refugees, and migrants in Greece, by the scientific team of the postgraduate programme “Global Health-Disaster Medicine” of the Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with the support of the Swiss embassy in Greece. The course was delivered online due to the pandemic restriction measures and was comprised of 16 h over 2 days. The course curriculum was adapted in Greek using, upon agreement, a similar training course to what was developed by the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Evaluation of the course was conducted in order to determine the short term satisfaction from participating in this training course. Results: A total of 70% of the course participants completed the evaluation questionnaires and all trainers gave feedback on the course. The training modules were ranked as extremely useful by the majority of the participants and over 50% of the participants specifically stated that the course content was directly related to their work with vulnerable groups. Content about the ethics of contact tracing and the effective communication skills presented were deemed most useful. Conclusion: The course was well organised and provided the required skills for effective contact tracing. Many course participants intend to use some components in their work with vulnerable populations groups. Contact tracing efforts work best in a systematic and coordinated way and the provision of systematic and organised training can greatly increase its effectiveness.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Riza & Eleni Kakalou & Evangelia Nitsa & Ioannis Hodges-Mameletzis & Paraskevi Goggolidou & Agis Terzidis & Eleni Cardoso & Karl Philipp Puchner & Zisimos Solomos & Anastasia Pikouli & Eleni-Pan, 2021. "Appraisal of a Contact Tracing Training Program for COVID-19 in Greece Focusing on Vulnerable Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:17:p:9257-:d:627566
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wooil Kim & Hyubjin Lee & Yon Dohn Chung, 2020. "Safe contact tracing for COVID-19: A method without privacy breach using functional encryption techniques based-on spatio-temporal trajectory data," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Paolo Roma & Merylin Monaro & Laura Muzi & Marco Colasanti & Eleonora Ricci & Silvia Biondi & Christian Napoli & Stefano Ferracuti & Cristina Mazza, 2020. "How to Improve Compliance with Protective Health Measures during the COVID-19 Outbreak: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model and Machine Learning Algorithms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-17, October.
    3. Amir Khorram-Manesh & Maxim A. Dulebenets & Krzysztof Goniewicz, 2021. "Implementing Public Health Strategies—The Need for Educational Initiatives: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(11), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Dyani Lewis, 2020. "Why many countries failed at COVID contact-tracing — but some got it right," Nature, Nature, vol. 588(7838), pages 384-387, December.
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