Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29989094›Full record

ArticleBMJ global health2018

Qualitative study of Ebola screening at ports of entry to the UK.

Joanna May Kesten, Suzanne Audrey, Maya Holding, Caroline Coope, Nick Young, Colin S Brown, Jenny Harries, Matthew Hickman, Isabel Oliver

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ global health, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Joanna May KestenNIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Suzanne AudreyPopulation Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Maya HoldingNIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Caroline CoopeNIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Nick YoungPublic Health England South West Centre, Public Health England, Bristol, UK.
Colin S BrownNational Infection Service, Public Health England, Bristol, UK.
Jenny HarriesPublic Health England South of England Regional Office, Public Health England, London, UK.
Matthew HickmanNIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
Isabel OliverNIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/K023233/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionIn response to the 2013-2016 West African outbreak of the Ebola virus disease (EVD), Public Health England introduced enhanced screening at major UK ports of entry. Our aim was to explore screeners' and screened travellers' perceptions of screening as part of an evaluation of the screening programme.

methodsWe undertook qualitative focus groups and semistructured interviews with screeners and travellers who had returned from affected countries before and after the introduction of screening in England. The study was conducted in two airports: one international rail terminal and one military airport. Research topic guides explored perceptions of the purpose and implementation of the process, potential improvements and reactions to screening. The data were analysed using the framework method.

resultsTwenty-four screeners participated in 4 focus groups (one for each port of entry) and 23 travellers participated in interviews. Three themes are presented: 'Context', 'Screeners' experience of the programme' and 'Screening purpose and experiences'. The programme was implemented rapidly, refined over time and adapted to individual ports. Screeners reported diverse experiences of screening including negative impacts on their normal roles, difficult interactions with passengers and pressure to identify positive EVD cases. Screening was considered unlikely to identify individuals with symptoms of EVD, and some participants suggested it was driven by political concerns rather than empirical evidence. The screening process was valued for its provision of information and reassurance.

conclusionThis qualitative study found that the UK EVD screening process was perceived to be acceptable to assess individual risk and provide information and advice to travellers. Future programmes should have clear objectives and streamlined processes to minimise disruption, tailored to the nature of the threat and developed with the needs of humanitarian workers as well as general travellers in mind.

Indexed as

health systems evaluationinfections, diseases, disorders, injuriespublic healthqualitative studyscreening

Identifiers

PMID29989094
PMCPMC6035509

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.