STAY-CALM (Community Action Local Model) Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
STAY-CALM (Community Action Local Model) Study
IRAS ID
296257
Contact name
Kamalini Ramdas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
London Business School
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 4 days
Research summary
Rapid rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine is constrained by its availability and logistical challenges. However, even when it is available and is offered to individuals, misinformation about its harms has reduced vaccine uptake, especially among minority ethnic groups. Thus, availability of accurate information on the benefits of vaccination, and clarification of doubts about perceived harms, is critical. Data from our lead GP for this study, the Central Camden Primary Care Network (PCN) which covers 70,000 patients, shows that vaccine uptake is currently as low as 40% in the Somali population covered by this PCN, relative to 80% uptake in its white British population.
In this study, we test a replicable, community-based education model focused on increasing Covid-19 vaccination uptake in ethnically diverse, economically deprived populations – in which misinformation regarding Covid-19 has been arguably the greatest. We will offer interactive virtual group information sessions with an NHS healthcare provider, held on Zoom, on the benefits of vaccination and with an opportunity to clarify concerns.
Our Zoom information sessions, also accessible by phone, will be delivered by Central Camden PCN care providers already trained by ELC Works (https://elcworks.co.uk/), authorized by NHS England & Improvement, and include live Q&A, and scheduled using an interface developed by IT provider Primary Bio (see demo link).
Some sessions will include a communication about the vaccine from people from low uptake ethnic communities and some sessions will be run by a healthcare provider from an ethnicity with low uptake.
We will measure the treatment effect of being randomly assigned to a Zoom information session on attitudes towards vaccination and actual uptake, and the effect of group size, by: 1) comparing self-reported attitudes towards vaccination using the baseline and endline surveys, and 2) comparing actual takeup rates before and after the treatment based on administrative data from our GP practices, for a year after the study.
We are leveraging local GP surgeries, schools, and charities. Funding is guaranteed by Phoenix Court Works, the charitable arm of Phoenix Court, a Somers Town based business.REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0131
Date of REC Opinion
28 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion