Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38417953›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2024

Impact and cost-effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 self-testing strategies in schools: a multicountry modelling analysis.

Joshua M Chevalier, Alvin X Han, Megan A Hansen, Ethan Klock, Hiromi Pandithakoralage, Tom Ockhuisen, Sarah J Girdwood, Nkgomeleng A Lekodeba, Alexandra de Nooy, Shaukat Khan and 5 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2024. 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
1.2field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
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, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  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

15 authors at 5 institutions in 5 countries.

Joshua M ChevalierDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-8873-6669
Alvin X HanDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Megan A HansenDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ethan KlockDepartment of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Hiromi PandithakoralageDepartment of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Tom OckhuisenDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0009-0002-3773-3286
Sarah J GirdwoodFIND, Geneva, Switzerland.
Nkgomeleng A LekodebaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Alexandra de NooyDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Shaukat KhanFIND, Geneva, Switzerland.
Cheryl C JohnsonHIV Department, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Jilian A SacksDepartment of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Helen E JenkinsDepartment of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Colin A RussellDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Brooke E NicholsDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands brooke.nichols@finddx.org.ORCID 0000-0003-4682-4999
Amsterdam University Medical Centers · NLBoston University · USFIND · CHWorld Health Organization - Pakistan · PKUniversity of the Witwatersrand · ZA

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo determine the most epidemiologically effective and cost-effective school-based SARS-CoV-2 antigen-detection rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) self-testing strategies among teachers and students.

designMathematical modelling and economic evaluation. SETTING AND

participantsSimulated school and community populations were parameterised to Brazil, Georgia and Zambia, with SARS-CoV-2 self-testing strategies targeted to teachers and students in primary and secondary schools under varying epidemic conditions.

interventionsSARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT self-testing strategies for only teachers or teachers and students-only symptomatically or symptomatically and asymptomatically at 5%, 10%, 40% or 100% of schools at varying frequencies. OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcomes were assessed in terms of total infections and symptomatic days among teachers and students, as well as total infections and deaths within the community under the intervention compared with baseline. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for infections prevented among teachers and students.

resultsWith respect to both the reduction in infections and total cost, symptomatic testing of all teachers and students appears to be the most cost-effective strategy. Symptomatic testing can prevent up to 69·3%, 64·5% and 75·5% of school infections in Brazil, Georgia and Zambia, respectively, depending on the epidemic conditions, with additional reductions in community infections. ICERs for symptomatic testing range from US$2 to US$19 per additional school infection averted as compared with symptomatic testing of teachers alone.

conclusionsSymptomatic testing of teachers and students has the potential to cost-effectively reduce a substantial number of school and community infections.

Indexed as

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2Cost-Benefit AnalysisHumansSchoolsSelf-TestingCOVID-19Health economicsHealth policy

Identifiers

PMID38417953
PMCPMC10900377
OpenAlexW4392244850

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

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.