The Use of Digital Technology for COVID-19 Detection and Response Management in Indonesia: Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a greater use of digital technologies as part of the health care response in many countries, including Indonesia. It is the world’s fourth-most populous nation and Southeast Asia’s most populous country, with considerable public health pressures. Objective The aim of our study is to identify and review the use of digital health technologies in COVID-19 detection and response management in Indonesia. Methods We conducted a literature review of publicly accessible information in technical and scientific journals, as well as news articles from September 2020 to August 2022 to identify the use case examples of digital technologies in COVID-19 detection and response management in Indonesia. Results The results are presented in 3 groups, namely (1) big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning (technologies for the collection or processing of data); (2) health care system technologies (acting at the public health level); and (3) COVID-19 screening, population treatment, and prevention population treatment (acting at the individual patient level). Some of these technologies are the result of government-academia-private sector collaborations during the pandemic, which represent a novel, multisectoral practice in Indonesia within the public health care ecosystem. A small number of the identified technologies pre-existed the pandemic but were upgraded and adapted for current needs. Conclusions Digital technologies were developed in Indonesia during the pandemic, with a direct impact on supporting COVID-19 management, detection, response, and treatment. They addressed different areas of the technological spectrum and with different levels of adoption, ranging from local to regional to national. The indirect impact of this wave of technological creation and use is a strong foundation for fostering future multisectoral collaboration within the national health care system of Indonesia.

Development of a Telemedicine Acceptance Model in Indonesia by Considering Trust and Usability Factors for Self-Isolated Patients

“…The use of telemedicine services in Indonesia has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the data released, the number of users reached 38 million active users for two telemedicine applications, namely Halodoc and Alodokter [1]. This data indicates that the acceptance of virtual remote health care provides alternative access to patient care, making it a very useful modality during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when self-isolating [2].…”

“…The Government of the Republic of Indonesia through the Ministry of Health has socialized and tested eleven free telemedicine applications for COVID-19 patients. These telemedicine services can be used for consultation and treatment requests related to COVID-19 cure efforts while in selfisolation [1]. This telemedicine service is used for consultations and medication requests related to efforts to cure COVID-19 [1].…”

“…These telemedicine services can be used for consultation and treatment requests related to COVID-19 cure efforts while in selfisolation [1]. This telemedicine service is used for consultations and medication requests related to efforts to cure COVID-19 [1]. To facilitate this, health service providers must consider patient acceptance, usability, and trust.…”

Obstacle of Covid-19 Digital Surveillance at Public Health Centers: Exploratory Study in West Java

“…Based on surveillance data reporting involving various digital technologies in pandemic management and response, countries have adopted and integrated digital technologies for pandemic planning, surveillance, testing, contact tracing, quarantine, and healthcare, including in Indonesia with various applications used. However, understanding of the hurdles and difficulties in using various applications to produce quality surveillance data is still limited (3).…”