tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Med Internet Res
. 2021 Jan 15.
doi: 10.2196/24730. Online ahead of print.
Predicting public take-up of digital contact tracing during the COVID-19 crisis: Results of a national survey in Singapore
Young Ern Saw[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Edina Yq Tan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessica S Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jean Liu[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: In the global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), new digital solutions have been developed for infection control. In particular, contact tracing mobile applications provide a means for governments to manage both health and economic concerns. However, public reception of these applications is paramount to success, and global take-up rates have been low.
Objective: In this study, we sought to identify characteristics of an individual or the situation that may be associated with voluntary downloads of a contact tracing mobile application in Singapore.
Methods: A sample of 505 adults from the general community completed an online survey. As the primary outcome measure, participants indicated whether they had downloaded a contact tracing application introduced at the national level ("TraceTogether"). As predictor variables, we assessed: (1) participant demographics; (2) behavioral changes on account of the pandemic; and (3) pandemic severity (the number of cases and lockdown status).
Results: Within our dataset, the strongest predictor of digital contact tracing take-up was the extent to which individuals had already adjusted their lifestyles because of the pandemic (Z = 13.56, P < .001). Network analyses revealed that take-up was most related to: using hand sanitizers, avoiding public transport, and preferring outdoor over indoor venues during the pandemic. However, demographic and situational characteristics was not significantly associated with application downloads.
Conclusions: Efforts to introduce contact tracing applications could capitalize on pandemic-related behavioral adjustments that individuals have made. Given that critical mass is needed for contact tracing to be effective, we urge further research to understand how citizens respond to contact tracing applications.
. 2021 Jan 15.
doi: 10.2196/24730. Online ahead of print.
Predicting public take-up of digital contact tracing during the COVID-19 crisis: Results of a national survey in Singapore
Young Ern Saw[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Edina Yq Tan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessica S Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jean Liu[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33465034
- DOI: 10.2196/24730
Abstract
Background: In the global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), new digital solutions have been developed for infection control. In particular, contact tracing mobile applications provide a means for governments to manage both health and economic concerns. However, public reception of these applications is paramount to success, and global take-up rates have been low.
Objective: In this study, we sought to identify characteristics of an individual or the situation that may be associated with voluntary downloads of a contact tracing mobile application in Singapore.
Methods: A sample of 505 adults from the general community completed an online survey. As the primary outcome measure, participants indicated whether they had downloaded a contact tracing application introduced at the national level ("TraceTogether"). As predictor variables, we assessed: (1) participant demographics; (2) behavioral changes on account of the pandemic; and (3) pandemic severity (the number of cases and lockdown status).
Results: Within our dataset, the strongest predictor of digital contact tracing take-up was the extent to which individuals had already adjusted their lifestyles because of the pandemic (Z = 13.56, P < .001). Network analyses revealed that take-up was most related to: using hand sanitizers, avoiding public transport, and preferring outdoor over indoor venues during the pandemic. However, demographic and situational characteristics was not significantly associated with application downloads.
Conclusions: Efforts to introduce contact tracing applications could capitalize on pandemic-related behavioral adjustments that individuals have made. Given that critical mass is needed for contact tracing to be effective, we urge further research to understand how citizens respond to contact tracing applications.