About
Funded by the European Commission, the overall study will contribute to global diagnostics and preparedness for the next health crisis by developing in vitro diagnostic devices and methodologies for application at the point-of-care.
The social sciences work led by AEE will investigate lay public and health care worker (HCW) professional priorities concerning format, access, acceptance, and understanding of point-of-care (POC) testing and its place in pandemic preparedness, so that these priorities can be integrated into the project to deliver innovative and generic/universal diagnostic platforms at the POC for the detection of emerging pathogens with high epidemic potential in humans and animals. Our specific objectives are to: identify through mixed methods approaches lay public (including specific difficult-to-reach social groups) and HCW needs and expectations of POC testing in future epidemics; produce insight into public and health care workers conceptions, engagement in, and priorities for pandemic preparedness; based on the findings of the two previous objectives, facilitate a dialogue across project leaders and partners, health authorities, and representatives from HCWs and other public groups around the modalities of POC testing and pandemic preparedness.
