Design and Feasibility Study of the Mobile Application StopTheSpread

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Network Science
• Health Education

Background:

• Recent disease outbreaks necessitate innovative public health awareness tools.
• Effective disease prevention education is crucial for mitigating widespread illness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce StopTheSpread, an educational mobile application designed to enhance public awareness of seasonal flu prevention.
• To assess the learning outcomes and feasibility of a mobile application for flu prevention education.

Main Methods:

• Developed StopTheSpread, a mobile app integrating network science and epidemiology concepts.
• Conducted an online feasibility study with volunteers recruited via social media during COVID-19 confinement.
• Assessed learning outcomes by comparing flu spreading awareness before and after app usage.

Main Results:

• The StopTheSpread mobile application demonstrated a 20% increase in user awareness regarding flu spreading mechanisms.
• The app successfully engaged users through a series of games with increasing difficulty.
• Users were provided with best practices for flu prevention aligned with CDC and WHO guidelines.

Conclusions:

• StopTheSpread is an effective tool for improving public understanding of flu transmission and prevention.
• Mobile applications can serve as valuable platforms for accessible and engaging health education.
• The app successfully connected users to citizen science initiatives for global flu tracking.