Testing and trust: Public perceptions, expectations, and experiences of COVID-19 testing in Scotland

COVID-19 testing is a cornerstone of long-term pandemic control. Public trust in the value and accuracy of testing is essential to the success of the government’s testing strategy. This rapid qualitative study, involving 70 participants aged 19–85, investigated public understandings, expectations, and experiences of COVID-19 testing in Lothian, Scotland. In addition, the study investigated how people understand the purpose and value of COVID-19 tests and sought to identify the social factors that influence people’s willingness to undergo testing and follow government guidelines, as well as the ways in which people’s perceptions and experiences of testing affect trust in government and health services. The primary aim of the project was to provide rapid feedback to the government and institutions involved in the administration of COVID-19 testing to help improve the efficacy of testing programmes. The second aim of the project was to contribute to social understandings of testing and diagnosis within the fields of sociology andanthropology of medicine.