COVID-19 Apps as a Digital Intervention Policy: A Longitudinal Panel Data Analysis in South Korea

Hwang Kim

Health Policy, 2021, vol. 125, issue 11, 1430-1440

Abstract: Many countries have developed COVID-19 tracking apps that help individuals trace and detect “people” who are likely to have come in contact with confirmed patients. However, their adoption rates remain low. This study, therefore, investigated South Koreans’ adoption and usage behaviors of COVID-19 apps that detect the “place” where infectious people are found and alert people within 100m in dangerous zones. Our focus was on such apps’ impact on various facets of human life . Specifically, we analyzed mobile app usage data from 5,940 panelists at the start of the pandemic in South Korea and after the first major wave (January 6 to August 2, 2020). Findings showed that higher-income and more educated individuals were more likely to adopt COVID-19 apps early, and male and low-income people tended to use the COVID-19 tracking apps more frequently. In addition, this study offered empirical evidence of health protective behaviors, such as driving, shopping online, ordering food online, and avoiding travel and public transportation, and supported social- and religious-coping for people using COVID-19 apps. The implications are valuable for policy makers to implement a digital policy to motivate people to voluntarily engage in self-protective and coping behaviors through COVID-19 apps.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; COVID-19 apps; Longitudinal panel data analysis; Mobile app analysis; Health protective behavior; Coping strategy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:125:y:2021:i:11:p:1430-1440

DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.07.003

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