Temporal trends in test-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic DOI Creative Commons
Oliver Eales,

Mingmei Teo,

David J. Price

et al.

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 7, 2024

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented mass community testing programs, where individuals would seek tests due to (primarily) onset of symptoms. The cases recorded by programs represent only a fraction infected individuals, and depend on how people testing. If test-seeking behaviour exhibits heterogeneities or changes over time, this is not accounted for when analysing case data, then inferred epidemic dynamics used inform public health decision-making can be biased. Methods Here we describe temporal trends in Australia symptoms, age group, test type, jurisdiction from November 2021–September 2023. We use data two surveillance systems: weekly nationwide behavioural survey (NBS), established Australian Government monitor range responses COVID-19; Australia’s FluTracking system, ‘participatory system’ designed monitoring influenza-like illness health-care seeking behaviour, which was adapted early 2020 include questions relevant COVID-19. Results found that peaks generally aligned with rate reported cases. Test-seeking rapidly increased early-2022 coinciding greater availability rapid antigen tests. There were age-group, dynamic through time. lowest older (60+ years) until July 2022, after there homogeneity across age-groups. highest Capital Territory Tasmania consistently Queensland. Over course study who symptoms more predictive infection. probability compared NBS, suggesting participatory systems such as may health-conscious subset population. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate dynamism highlighting importance continued collection dedicated systems.

Language: Английский

Challenges in the case-based surveillance of infectious diseases DOI Creative Commons
Oliver Eales, James M. McCaw, Freya M. Shearer

et al.

Royal Society Open Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(8)

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

To effectively inform infectious disease control strategies, accurate knowledge of the pathogen's transmission dynamics is required. Since timings infections are rarely known, estimates infection incidence, which crucial for understanding dynamics, often rely on measurements other quantities amenable to surveillance. Case-based surveillance, in infected individuals identified by a positive test, predominant form surveillance many pathogens, and was used extensively during COVID-19 pandemic. However, there can be biases present case-based indicators due to, example test sensitivity, changing testing behaviours co-circulation pathogens with similar symptom profiles. Here, we develop mathematical description diseases. By considering realistic epidemiological parameters situations, demonstrate potential common based data. Crucially, find that these (e.g. case numbers, test-positive proportion) heavily biased circulating Future strategies could designed minimize sources bias uncertainty, providing more and, ultimately, targeted application public health measures.

Language: Английский

Citations

2
Temporal trends in test-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic DOI Creative Commons
Oliver Eales,

Mingmei Teo,

David J. Price

et al.

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 7, 2024

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries implemented mass community testing programs, where individuals would seek tests due to (primarily) onset of symptoms. The cases recorded by programs represent only a fraction infected individuals, and depend on how people testing. If test-seeking behaviour exhibits heterogeneities or changes over time, this is not accounted for when analysing case data, then inferred epidemic dynamics used inform public health decision-making can be biased. Methods Here we describe temporal trends in Australia symptoms, age group, test type, jurisdiction from November 2021–September 2023. We use data two surveillance systems: weekly nationwide behavioural survey (NBS), established Australian Government monitor range responses COVID-19; Australia’s FluTracking system, ‘participatory system’ designed monitoring influenza-like illness health-care seeking behaviour, which was adapted early 2020 include questions relevant COVID-19. Results found that peaks generally aligned with rate reported cases. Test-seeking rapidly increased early-2022 coinciding greater availability rapid antigen tests. There were age-group, dynamic through time. lowest older (60+ years) until July 2022, after there homogeneity across age-groups. highest Capital Territory Tasmania consistently Queensland. Over course study who symptoms more predictive infection. probability compared NBS, suggesting participatory systems such as may health-conscious subset population. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate dynamism highlighting importance continued collection dedicated systems.

Language: Английский

Citations

1