Exploratory Pilot Study Engages Community Health Workers to Test Drone-Based Package Delivery System for Personal Protective Equipment in High-Risk Appalachia Population

During the COVID-19 pandemic, high-risk clients’ and caregivers’ access to essential personal protective equipment (PPE) was limited especially in many remote areas of Appalachia. A multidisciplinary team of community and university partners explored how to coordinate the use of community health workers (CHWs) and drone technologies to increase access to PPE in rural and remote Appalachian regions. CHWs recruited 10 Homeplace clients in an exploratory study of drone-based package delivery of PPE to assess importance and effectiveness of PPE self-efficacy related to PPE use, use of PPE, and ease and acceptability of drone delivery (following delivery only). CHWs educated each participant via in-person and Zoom meetings on the reasons for using PPE and proper use of PPE using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Most participants found the drone delivery of PPE easy and 80% were extremely satisfied with the drone delivery process. The frequency of mask-wearing increased from 60% at baseline to 90% at follow-up. On average, participants rated all types of PPE as effective in preventing the spread of disease. Drone officials used the findings of this pilot study to develop a waiver application to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to request permission to fly beyond visual line of sight in remote areas. Aerial drone technology could be a cutting-edge approach to health promotion in remote areas. The study results provide the proof of concept to assist investigators in designing future projects to promote healthy homes by collecting air and water samples and testing novel interventions deploying drone technology in remote Appalachian regions.