Publication date: Dec 10, 2024

Access to healthcare and accurate health information is a persistent issue for people experiencing homelessness (PEH), one heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic and exacerbated by issues of health literacy and mistrust. Strategies involving community health workers (CHWs) have the potential to improve education and service delivery for PEH. The objective of this study is to assess PEH knowledge, attitudes and barriers to COVID-19 testing and vaccination, and the impact of CHW-led education within a homeless shelter in Indiana. Between November 2021 and April 2022, 15 sessions were held at a homeless shelter that combined focus group discussions with COVID-19-related education. Pre-/post-tests measured knowledge gains and attitude shifts among PEH. Guided by the socioecological model, thematic analysis of focus group transcripts identified key motivators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccination and testing. 78 PEH (73% male, 74% white, mean age=48). COVID-19-related knowledge gains and willingness to receive testing and vaccination among PEH. Completion of an educational session was associated with a significant increase in knowledge scores (mean pre-test score=10. 76/15, SD=2. 16; mean post-test score=13. 58/15, SD=1. 72; p

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Semantics

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