A Brief Motivational Enhancement Intervention to Promote COVID-19 Testing and Vaccination Among People Who Inject Drugs: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Connect2Test

Purpose To examine the incremental effectiveness and costs of a motivational enhancement intervention, Connect2Test, embedded in syringe service programs (SSPs) on COVID-19 testing and vaccination uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID). Design Two-arm randomized controlled trial. Setting SSPs in Oregon. Sample PWID (n = 349) receiving services at SSPs. Participants were 18 years or older ( M = 43.9), English-speaking, and mostly male (60%), White (64%), non-Hispanic (87%), and had low-income. Intervention Participants were randomized to contingency management (CM; ie, $10 gift card) only (n = 172) or to CM + Connect2Test (n = 177). Measures COVID-19 testing and vaccination (outcomes) and costs associated to Connect2Test training, staff delivery, materials, and facilities. Analysis : Used multilevel logistic regression to compare rates of COVID-19 testing and vaccination administered on the same day of the intervention and anytime during a 9-month follow-up period. Estimated incremental costs of CM + Connect2Test relative to CM-only using the ingredients method and a societal perspective. Results Relative to CM-only, the CM + Connect2Test group had 296% greater odds of receiving a vaccination during the 9-month follow-up period (3% vs 11%; OR = 3.96, 95%; CI = 1.43-10.94). No group differences were found for same-day vaccination or testing, or future testing. The estimated cost of a vaccine with Connect2Test was $575. Conclusions A brief motivational intervention delivered by SSP staff increased COVID-19 vaccination among PWID.