Healthcare Providers' and Frontline Workers' Experiences of an Ebola Vaccine Trial in the Boende Health District of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Trésor Zola Matuvanga, Freddy Bikioli Bolombo, Antea Paviotti, Ynke Larivière, Gwen Lemey, Maha Salloum, Bernard Isekah Osang'ir, Junior Matangila, Vivi Maketa, Emmanuel Esanga, Solange Milolo, Patrick Mitashi, Pierre Van Damme, Hypolite Muhindo-Mavoko, Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden
Author Information
Trésor Zola Matuvanga: Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Freddy Bikioli Bolombo: Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Antea Paviotti: Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Ynke Larivière: Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Gwen Lemey: Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Maha Salloum: Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Bernard Isekah Osang'ir: Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Junior Matangila: Tropical Medicine Department, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Vivi Maketa: Tropical Medicine Department, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Emmanuel Esanga: Division Provinciale de la Santé de la Tshuapa, Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Solange Milolo: Tropical Medicine Department, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Patrick Mitashi: Tropical Medicine Department, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Pierre Van Damme: Centre for the Evaluation of Vaccination, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
Hypolite Muhindo-Mavoko: Tropical Medicine Department, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jean-Pierre Van Geertruyden: Global Health Institute, Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
This study explored the experiences of healthcare providers (HCPs) and frontline workers who were involved in an Ebola vaccine trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The researchers interviewed a total of 99 participants (HCPs and frontline workers) living and working in the Boende health district during the period of the study, from February to March 2022. These individuals included a mix of trial participants and non-trial participants (staff of the trial, local health authorities, and head nurses of health centers). In-depth individual interviews, as well as focus group discussions (FGDs), were used to understand interviewees' experiences and perceptions. The data were analyzed to identify the main themes. The findings unveiled a multitude of positive experiences among interviewees/FGD participants. The commitment of the trial investigators to improve the study site and to equip the volunteers with necessary skills and knowledge greatly contributed to a positive trial experience. However, some interviewees felt that the reimbursement for time and travel expenses during their trial visits was insufficient in comparison with their expectations. Additionally, there were expressions of worry about the frequency of blood draws during scheduled trial visits. Our findings emphasize the critical importance of addressing and continuously considering the perspectives and concerns of trial participants before designing and implementing vaccine trials. By actively incorporating their inputs, researchers can mitigate concerns and tailor communication strategies, potentially enhancing the overall success and impact of the vaccine trial.
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