Facilitators and barriers to use rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 among community-dwelling older adults in Hong Kong: A population-based cross-sectional random telephone survey

Faster diagnosis of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is crucial for surveillance, prompt implementation of infection control measures and adequate patient care among older adults. This study investigated the behavioral intention to use Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) and associated factors among older adults in Hong Kong for health monitoring and when having COVID-19-like symptoms. This was a population-based cross-sectional random telephone survey of 370 Chinese-speaking adults aged ≥65 years. The behavioral intention to use RAT was the main outcome, and logistic regression models were used to assess the associated factors, using SPSS (version 26.0.). Results indicate that among the participants, 90.3% had used RAT, of which 21.6% obtained positive results. The common challenges faced when using RAT included: difficulty choosing the right RAT kit, uncertainty about how to use RAT, and not knowing what to do after getting a positive result. Additionally, 27.3% intended to use RAT regularly for health status monitoring without any symptoms, while 87.0% if they had COVID-19-like symptoms. After adjustment for significant background characteristics, positive attitudes, perceiving Hong Kong government and their children and/or other family members would support them using RAT, belief that RAT health promotion materials were helpful to understand how to use RAT and thoughtful consideration of the veracity of COVID-19 specific information were associated with higher behavioral intention to use RAT both when having no symptoms and in presence of COVID-19-like symptoms. Having negative attitudes toward RAT was associated with a lower intention of RAT use only when having no symptoms. Addressing difficulties faced when using RAT, strengthening positive attitudes, involving significant others and empowering with adequate information-veracity evaluating skills are potentially vital strategies to increase RAT use among older adults.