Thread by @apsmunro

🧵
Are trials of daily contact testing vs quarantining in schools "unethical"

tldr:
No. They never were, and are obviously not only ethical, but desirable, now we have results of a study

1/

A main concern was regarding equipoise - meaning, was there a balance before a trial of which would be better?

There absolutely was, including in modelling from spi-m, and I outlined that thinking previously here

2/

https://twitter.com/apsmunro/status/1402599049744822276?s=20

Results of the study show that there is likely little difference between the two, and testing results in less absence

If there is a difference (there is a range of uncertainty), it is very small, and unlikely important

Obviously there was not a huge difference = equipoise

3/

The other issue was around consent, and whether other people in the school who aren't directly involved should consent too

First, this is completely impractical. If one person in family of a pupil in a school of 1000 says no, there is no study

This means it's impossible

4/

Second, this is not a new thing in studies of infectious diseases

It is recognised studies which could effect people outside of the direct study population need to be done, and risks:benefits must be carefully considered

That is what the ethics board are for!

5/

For a fabulous read on the ethics of the study and it's importance, read this article which is a response to these challenges, including, astonishingly, input from actual ethics experts (always a good idea if publishing a letter about ethics...)

6/end
blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2021/07/07…