Intervention to Prevent Household and Community Spread of COVID-19 Among Latinos

The study team will develop and test a novel tailored behavioral intervention for patients of a Federally Qualified Health Center who are recently diagnosed with COVID-19. The study is a pragmatic, quality improvement randomized controlled trial (RCT). This research is looking to enroll 256 index patients and their households. Index patients and their households will be invited to participate in the COVID Prevention Program, which includes free COVID-19 testing for exposed household members. Index patients will be randomized to one of two groups: (a) the Standard-of-Care comparison group who will receive established clinical care and follow-up, or (b) the Enhanced Standard-of-Care group, who will receive standard-of-care plus tailored, real-time mobile/virtual counseling delivered by promotores/as. The intervention will use theory- and evidence-based strategies for behavior change and maximize the use of mobile phone applications and technologies to capture real-time behavioral, social, and contextual data (via Ecological Momentary Assessment). The intervention will utilize motivational interviewing techniques to tailor strategies to index patients' home environment/context and social/emotional needs. The intervention will target immediate risk of household spread, followed by risk of community spread. The primary outcome assessed will be a new positive antibody test within a household (post-baseline), as assessed by a blood draw collected by a certified phlebotomist. Secondary research outcomes will be assessed via self-report surveys. Surveys will include socioeconomic status indicators and demographics, as well as measures of mental health (e.g., depression), physical health (chronic conditions), health behaviors (social distancing, hand washing \& wearing face covering), as well as comorbidities and risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes. Primary and secondary outcomes will be measured at 5 timepoints: baseline, 6-weeks, 6-months, 12-months, and 24-months.

• COVID Prevention Program (CPP) (Behavioral): This project is a promotor/a-led COVID-19 Prevention Program (CPP) for Latino patients of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) who are recently diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. The program will implement immediate risk reduction strategies to prevent household spread of COVID-19, followed by risk reduction strategies to prevent community spread. Patients and household members who agree to participate will be patients of the FQHC (the covered entity) and will have completed a broad consent that authorizes program activities (e.g., COVID-19 testing, individualized counseling). Patients are free to refuse to participate in the CPP without impact on other services they may receive at the clinic. Research activities will be managed by study's measurement team, which involves surveys conducted on index patients at baseline, 1-, 6-, 12-, and 24-months. Written informed consent will be obtained for all research activities occurring outside of clinical care.

Primary outcomes

• Number of households with SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies [Baseline & 1-, 6-, 12-, and 24-months post-baseline.]: Antibodies assessed by a blood draw collected by a certified phlebotomist. SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid and Spike Protein IgG, used to accurately determine prior infection and/or vaccination.

Secondary outcomes

• Number of households with SARS-CoV-2 Active Infection [Baseline, 3-5 days post-baseline, and 7-9 days post-baseline.]: Active infection assessed by self-administered anterior nasal swab. SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR used to determine if exposed household member has been infected and/or can exit quarantine early.

Other outcomes

• Number of participants with risk reduction behaviors [Baseline & 1-, 6-, 12-, and 24-months post-baseline.]: Secondary outcomes measured via self-report surveys. Surveys include socioeconomic status indicators and demographics, measures of mental health (e.g., depression), physical health (chronic conditions) and health behaviors (social distancing, hand washing \& wearing face covering), comorbidities, and risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Sex: All, ages: 18 Years to any, accepts healthy volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult patients of a federally qualified health center (+18yrs)
* Test positive for COVID-19

Exclusion Criteria:

* Planning to move out of state in the next year
* Cognitive impairment that is contraindicated to receiving counseling and following behavioral strategies (e.g., schizophrenia, Down syndrome)
* Living in a transitionary home or homeless.

• Results publication: Crespo NC, Godino J, Behar A, Dionicio P, de la Torre CL, Fraga K, Santoscoy M, Elder JP, Oren E, Lin CD, Arredondo EM, Madanat H, Ramers CB. COVID Prevention Program: Rationale and methodology of a tailored behavioral intervention to prevent household and community spread of COVID-19 among Latinos. Contemp Clin Trials. 2025 Sep;156:108046. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2025.108046. Epub 2025 Aug 13. PMID 40816435

• Noe C Crespo, M.P.H, Ph.D., Principal investigator, San Diego State University Research Foundation