Innovative Methods Used in Monitoring COVID-19 in Europe: A Multinational Study

Brigid Unim (), Nienke Schutte, Martin Thissen and Luigi Palmieri
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Brigid Unim: Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases and Aging, National Institute of Health, Via Giano della Bella 34, 00162 Rome, Italy
Nienke Schutte: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Rue Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
Martin Thissen: Unit 24—Health Reporting, Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, General-Pape-Str. 62-66, 12101 Berlin, Germany
Luigi Palmieri: Department of Cardiovascular, Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases and Aging, National Institute of Health, Via Giano della Bella 34, 00162 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Several innovative methods have been deployed worldwide to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study is to investigate which innovative methods are used to monitor COVID-19 health issues in Europe and related legislative and ethical aspects. An online questionnaire was administered to European countries’ representatives of the project Population Health Information Research Infrastructure. Additional information was obtained from websites and documents provided by the respondents; an overview of the literature was also performed. Respondents from 14 countries participated in the study. Digital tools are used to monitor the spread of COVID-19 (13/14 countries) and vaccination coverage (12/14); for research, diagnostics, telehealth (14/14); to fight disinformation (11/14) and forecast the pandemic spread (4/14). The level of implementation of telehealth applications was mostly low/medium. Legislative and ethical issues were encountered in many countries, leading to institutional distrust. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for timely and accurate health data for research purposes and policy planning. However, the use of innovative methods for population health monitoring and timely data collection has posed challenges to privacy and online security globally. Adequate regulatory oversight, targeted public health interventions, and fight against disinformation could improve the uptake rate and enhance countries’ emergency preparedness.

Keywords: COVID-19; coronavirus; pandemic; digital tools; mobile devices; health monitoring (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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