Improving the implementation of measures to prevent and control the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at Bavarian schools (Implementierung Schulmaßnahmen covID-19 bayErnn - INSIDE)
Short Description
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a myriad of infection control measures were implemented in German schools. Scientific evidence has shown varying degrees of effectiveness when assessing these measures. It has further shown that the effectiveness of the measures depends significantly on this implementation.
In 2020, a representative group of researchers, school personnel, parents, students and other interest groups convened to jointly develop an evidence- and consensus-informed guideline. This guideline was intended to serve as a decision support tool for policy makers and practitioners. This guideline integrates scientific evidence and best practice.
It has, however, shown that an adaptation of recommended measures to local conditions is necessary to facilitate the successful implementation of this guideline. We will therefore investigate how the measures described in the guideline and in the Bavarian hygiene plans, as well as in ordinances and official letters from Bavarian ministries, are and have been implemented at schools in Bavaria.
Concept
Component 1 - Document Analysis
The aim of the document analysis is to obtain an overview of service-related instructions for the implementation of measures for the prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 at Bavarian schools as well as their adaptation over time by analyzing the official guidelines. In addition, comparison with the evidence- and consensus-based recommendations for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 in schools developed in the guideline provides insight into the evidence base of these measures. To this end, we analyse a range of official documents issued by the Bavarian Ministry of Education.
Component 2 - Qualitative Component
The aim of the qualitative data collection is to explore which experiences were made in implementing infection control measures in the COVID-19 pandemic in Bavarian schools. In particular, it is of interest to find out how the implementation of infection control measures was perceived over the time course of the COVID-19 pandemic, which strategies were used to implement infection control measures, and which factors were perceived as facilitating and/or hindering the implementation of infection control measures. To this end, semi-structured interviews and focus groups are conducted at elementary, middle, or junior high schools and high schools.
Component 3 - Quantitative Component
The aim of the data collection is to quantify how infection control measures were implemented in Bavarian schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, a representative data collection via online survey is conducted at general schools as well as in upper and higher secondary vocational schools in Bavaria.
Funding Period
February - December 2022
Funding Body
Bavarian Ministry of Science and Arts
Contact
Dr. Lisa Pfadenhauer (Principal Investigator) (pfadenhauer@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de)
Prof. Dr Eva Rehfuess (Co-Investigator) (rehfuess@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de)
Brigitte Strahwald (Co-Investigator) (bstrahwald@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de)
Dr. Karin Geffert (Co-Investigator) (kgeffert@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de)
Julian-Paul Meyer (Scientific staff) (julian.meyer@ibe.med.uni-muenchen.de)