“I Wanted to be Part of the Solution”: Motivations, Preparation, and Mental Health of COVID-19 Contact Tracers in the New York Metropolitan Area

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2021

Abstract

Contact tracing is a method of controlling the spread of infectious disease and limiting transmission. The sudden and pressing need for COVID-19 contact tracers has emerged due to the growing spread of the pandemic. Twenty interviews were conducted with contact tracers from the New York metropolitan area. The data was analyzed using an inductive method involving constant comparison. The six major themes included: primary motivators, perception of role, challenges of contact tracing, strengths of contact tracing, and perceptions contacts under investigation, and perceptions of mental health. Understanding the experiences of COVID-19 contact tracers has helped to identify implications to recruit, train and retain them and ensure they are satisfied and productive members of the disease investigation workforce.

Comments

© 2020 Southern Public Administration Education Foundation, Inc. (SPAEF)

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Publication Title

Journal of Health and Human Services Administration

Published Citation

Santella, A. J., Bosley, A., Carillo, I., Fraticelli, D., & Muder, S. J. (2021). “I Wanted to be Part of the Solution”: Motivations, Preparation, and Mental Health of COVID-19 Contact Tracers in the New York Metropolitan Area. Journal of Health and Human Services Administration, 44(3), 219-244. https://doi.org/10.37808/jhhsa.44.3.2

DOI

10.37808/jhhsa.44.3.2

Peer Reviewed

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