COVID-19 Testing Experiences and Attitudes among Young Adults and Socially Isolated Older Adults Living in Public Housing, New York City (2022)

Emily Gill^1*Zora Hall¹Lorna Thorpe¹Natasha Williams¹Elle Anastasiou¹Stefanie Bendik¹Malcolm Punter²Jeremy Reiss³Donna Shelley⁴Marie Bragg¹

• ¹NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, United States
• ²Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, New York, United States
• ³Henry Street Settlement, New York, New York, United States
• ⁴NYU School of Global Public Health, New York, United States

Background. As part of an initiative to increase COVID-19 testing uptake among underserved populations, we conducted focus groups to explore experiences and attitudes related to testing in two understudied groups-young adults and socially-isolated older adults-recruited from residents living in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) public housing developments. Materials and Methods. In June through November 2022, we conducted eight virtual focus groups with 21 young adults and 11 older adults living in NYCHA (n=32 total). To identify themes, we conducted a rapid qualitative analysis approach. Results. Residents discussed four overarching themes: 1) trusted COVID-19 information sources; 2) reasons for testing; 3) barriers to testing, and 4) strategies to increase testing uptake. Findings were similar across the two age groups; both cited multiple sources of information, including major media outlets, government or public health officials, and doctors. Young adults were more likely to access information from social media despite concerns about misinformation. Participants identified several barriers to testing, such as long lines, insurance coverage, and cost. Young adults reported that at-home COVID testing was more convenient, while older adults expressed concern about accuracy and administering the tests themselves. Recommendations for improving testing emphasized easier access via a central well-known location, in-home visits, free or low-cost tests, and increased outreach. Conclusions. Mainstream media, doctors and public agencies remain the most trusted sources of information among younger and older residents alike. Many resident recommendations involved leveraging NYCHA infrastructure, highlighting the continuing role public housing authorities can play in COVID-19 and other health initiatives.