Improving a microbial risk assessment tool with direct feedback from school health staff

Due to the impact of COVID-19, publicly available risk-based tools are becoming increasingly popular. However, subject experts develop most of these tools without consulting end users. Thus, this study aimed to explore users' perceptions, vision, and guidance for microbial risk assessment tool development through focus groups. This tool was intended to assist school health staff in decision-making regarding school respiratory viral outbreaks. Partnering with a school district in the Tucson metropolitan area, we conducted three focus groups with school health staff to gather feedback on a risk tool prototype. We discussed the staff’s vision for the tool, their feedback on tool capabilities and design, and how they could leverage tool output for informing decisions, advocating with administration, or educating parents, students, or staff. Focus groups were conducted at the district health office, and the transcripts were analyzed by two researchers using inductively informed themes. Thematic analysis revealed that a comprehensive microbial risk assessment tool must have the potential to manage large amounts of data, scope for incorporation of existing data management systems, have real-time data processing, and produce context-specific recommendations for advocacy. Risk tools can expand personalized risk assessment and management strategies. Directly engaging users will advance microbial risk assessment impact and implementation. In the context of schools, a collaborative, comprehensive, digital and real time microbial risk assessment tool is a timely demand by the school health staff to manage microbial risks.