Smartphone apps in the COVID-19 pandemic

Pandit, Jay A; Radin, Jennifer M; Quer, Giorgio; Topol, Eric J.

doi:10.1038/s41587-022-01350-x

Cited by 74 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…The increase in app uptake after the requirement for venue check-in was introduced indicates the potential importance of integrating different digital tools for maximum user engagement and effectiveness. A broader international review of the use of digital tools in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is given by Pandit et al 22 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological impacts of the NHS COVID-19 app in England and Wales throughout its first year

Kendall

Tsallis²,

Wymant

et al. 2023

Nat Commun

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The NHS COVID-19 app was launched in England and Wales in September 2020, with a Bluetooth-based contact tracing functionality designed to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We show that user engagement and the app’s epidemiological impacts varied according to changing social and epidemic characteristics throughout the app’s first year. We describe the interaction and complementarity of manual and digital contact tracing approaches. Results of our statistical analyses of anonymised, aggregated app data include that app users who were recently notified were more likely to test positive than app users who were not recently notified, by a factor that varied considerably over time. We estimate that the app’s contact tracing function alone averted about 1 million cases (sensitivity analysis 450,000–1,400,000) during its first year, corresponding to 44,000 hospital cases (SA 20,000–60,000) and 9,600 deaths (SA 4600–13,000).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological impacts of the NHS COVID-19 app in England and Wales throughout its first year

Kendall

Tsallis²,

Wymant

et al. 2023

Nat Commun

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…25 47 Additionally, since our chatbots were hosted on two major mobile messenger apps, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger, our study also adds weight to previous evidence supporting the potential of mobile messenger applications in delivering vaccination knowledge, debunking vaccine-related misinformation, and providing vaccination guidance to vaccine hesitant individuals. 48,49 Our data showed that a majority of hesitant chatbot users were less likely to deteriorate in vaccine con dence and acceptance, compared with non-users; however, our study also found some apparent evidence of 'back re' effects, speci cally among some most vaccine-hesitant chatbot using parents in Hong Kong where we observed decreased vaccine acceptance with chatbot use. 'Back re effects' are a controversial topic within the literature on digital health interventions -some research suggests that, in certain circumstances, provaccine messaging delivered through social media can be counterproductive.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 42%

The effectiveness of conversational AI services on Covid-19 vaccine confidence and acceptance in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore

Leung

Lee²,

Dabak

et al. 2022

Preprint

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, the emergence of the infodemic and vaccine hesitancy posed a significant challenge to adequate vaccine uptake. In response, conversational AI services such as chatbots have become an increasingly popular tool in the field of health service delivery and communication to increase individuals’ health literacy and vaccination intention. However, few studies have performed a rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness of chatbots as a means of improving vaccine confidence and acceptance. In Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore, from February 11th to June 30th, 2022, we conducted multisite randomised controlled trials (RCT) on 2,045 adults with unvaccinated dependent family members who were vulnerable (i.e., seniors) and had been refusing/delaying vaccination, or newly eligible for vaccines (i.e., children). After a week of using multilingual COVID-19 vaccine chatbots, the differences in vaccine confidence - measured by the Vaccine Confidence Index - and acceptance were compared between the intervention and control groups. Factors of vaccine confidence and acceptance were explored. Compared to non-users, a smaller proportion of chatbot users reported a decrease of confidence in vaccine effectiveness in the Thailand child group [Intervention: 4·3% vs. Control: 17%, P = 0·023] and Hong Kong child group [10% vs. 26%, P = 0·034], and of vaccine effectiveness in reducing severe conditions in the Thailand senior group [12% vs. 21%, P = 0·024]. There was no significant change in vaccine confidence or acceptance in the Singapore child group and Hong Kong senior group. Employing the RE-AIM framework, process evaluation indicated strong acceptance and implementation support for vaccine chatbots from stakeholders, with high levels of sustainability and scalability. This study was the first multisite, parallel RCT on vaccine chatbots and reported mixed success in improving vaccine confidence and acceptance among highly hesitant Asian subpopulations. Deploying chatbots as a complement to existing vaccination strategies could identify users’ main concerns for rejecting/delaying vaccination and facilitate a targeted communication and engagement strategy. Trial registration: NCT05424952

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“…The use of smartphones increased not only for education but also for the awareness of masses regarding the disease. During the period of quarantine public awareness and also communication with patients was easier through health application on mobile phones, in such ways mobile phone use made considerable contribution (8).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rise in mobile gadgets use for school learning and health issues of children- Long-term sequelae of covid-19 pandemic

Shah¹,

Shaikh²,

Shah³

2022

LMRJ

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COVID-19 pandemic has brought a paradigm shift in education with a trend of online learning and even schooling. During complete lockdown period schools were shifted to smartphones and computers. This study aimed to explore the pattern of smartphone use before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and the health issues of school-going children in post-COVID-19 period. There was a significant rise in the timings of mobile phone use from 2 hours to 7 hours per day. A total of 90% of student’s mothers reported behavioral change where lack of socializing was the most commonly reported change. Irritation of eyes and dryness were the most commonly reported ocular disorders. The rise of mobile phones has brought several behavioral and ocular disorders due to long hours of use. There is a need to confirm health-related issues of smartphone use in large prospective studies and develop preventive strategies.

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Smartphone apps in the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 74 publications

References 74 publications

Epidemiological impacts of the NHS COVID-19 app in England and Wales throughout its first year

Epidemiological impacts of the NHS COVID-19 app in England and Wales throughout its first year

The effectiveness of conversational AI services on Covid-19 vaccine confidence and acceptance in Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore

Rise in mobile gadgets use for school learning and health issues of children- Long-term sequelae of covid-19 pandemic

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