COVID Radar collects data via the zip code area, meaning that an individual user is part of a group of 3,000 people in the same zip code area and is not personally recognized. The added value of the app was already demonstrated last year. It is clear that for accurate monitoring of COVID-19, high involvement of the users of the app is crucial. The user-friendliness of the COVID Radar app plays a major role in this.
COVID Radar app research
The aim of the new research was therefore to gain insight into how the acceptance and user-friendliness of the app can be improved and what is needed to make the app more inclusive. Think of better accessibility for low-literate people. In addition, attention was also paid to the search for improvements that lead to users continuing to use the app.
For these objectives, the new research was divided into three sub-studies:
- Three group interviews were conducted with 14 citizens who were already using the app. They were asked about their user experiences and possible improvements to the app.
- Using 1,080 emails that users of the app have sent to the COVID-Radar project team since the launch of the app, I made a qualitative thematic analysis of the app.
- In addition, the possibilities for improvement in the area of the app’s inclusiveness have been mapped out. Before that, the app was assessed by language experts from Pharos. They also conducted four 1-on-1 testing sessions with low-literate people.
App improved, users positive
Overall, the users of the COVID-19 Radar App were pleased with both the design and functionality. Thanks to the new research, a number of opportunities for improvement have been identified. These also concerned the design and content of the app.
With these results, the accessibility of the app has been further improved. The users indicated that the fact that they can contribute to science with the app was an important factor in continuing to use the app.
“By means of (daily) registrations of symptoms and behaviour, which usually only took them 1 or a few minutes, they were able to contribute to mapping the spread of the virus and possible predictions of COVID-19 hotspots”, according to the study, which can be read in its entirety here.
ICT&health congres 2023
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