A mixed-methods evaluation of advice on isolation and health-seeking to contain transmission

This COVID-19 Rapid Response award is jointly funded (50:50) between the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health Research. The figure displayed is the total award amount of the two funders combined, with each partner contributing equally towards the project. Measures to contain and delay COVID-19 in the UK include supported isolation for repatriated individuals, targeted advice to self-isolate for confirmed cases, contacts and symptomatic people, "shielding" for extremely vulnerable people and social distancing for the rest of the population. Evidence suggests that advice to self-isolate is not always adhered to and experiencing supported or self-isolation can have detrimental effects on mental health and wellbeing. We aim to assess the effectiveness, acceptability and impact of isolation and distancing interventions to strengthen the current management of COVID-19. We propose to implement a series of mixed-methods evaluations, focusing on supported and self-isolation and social distancing. This includes a rapid evaluation of supported isolation to assess adherence to advice and impact on mental health and wellbeing, using quantitative surveys and semi-structured interviews. We will also evaluate self-isolation and social distancing advice during the containment and delay phases, using a quantitative survey and follow-up interviews with people identified through contact tracing activities, extremely vulnerable "shielded" individuals and the general population, to determine barriers and facilitators to adherence and assess the impact of advice on health and wellbeing, including identifying any differences between the different groups. Finally, an ethnographic study will focus on community responses in the UK and China through a series of narrative interviews and analysis of documentary sources. We will produce interim and final reports, focusing on policy and practice implications for management of supported isolation facilities, communicating advice to self-isolate and socially distance and the development of a communications strategy.