Objectives: To describe the participants of a university-based COVID-19 contact tracing course and determine whether the course changed knowledge, attitudes, and intention to participate in contact tracing.
Participants: Faculty, staff, and students were eligible.
Methods: Surveys evaluated the impact of the course on participant intentions to engage in contact tracing. Logistic regression identified characteristics associated with increased likelihood of participating in contact tracing.
Results: Nearly 800 individuals participated, of whom 26.2% identified as Hispanic/Latino and 14.0% as Black. Nearly half (48.8%) planned to conduct contact tracing. While attitudes did not change, knowledge improved (67.9% vs. 93.8% scores on assessments; p < 0.001). Younger participants and Black individuals were more more likely to be confident that they would participate in contact tracing.
Conclusions: Course completion was associated with increased knowledge. Participants were racially and ethnically diverse, highlighting how universities can partner with health departments to develop workforces that reflect local communities.
Keywords: COVID-19; public health practice; public health professional education.