Public Perspectives on Exposure Notification Apps: A Patient and Citizen Co-Designed Study.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Digital exposure notification apps, like Canada's COVID Alert, were developed to supplement traditional contact tracing during the pandemic.
• Understanding user adoption, concerns, and public perception is crucial for the effectiveness of these public health tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the usage, awareness, and concerns associated with the COVID Alert app.
• To determine factors predicting the download of the COVID Alert app.
• To propose strategies for enhancing the social acceptance of digital contact tracing tools.

Main Methods:

• A 36-item questionnaire was co-designed by citizens, patients, and researchers.
• Data were collected from 959 respondents in Québec, Canada, between May 27 and June 28, 2021.
• Statistical analysis was performed to identify predictors of app download and analyze concerns.

Main Results:

• 43% of respondents had downloaded the COVID Alert app, with government messaging being a key influence.
• Reasons for not downloading included infrequent social contacts and perceived inefficacy; common concerns involved cybersecurity, privacy, and geolocation.
• Nearly half of respondents incorrectly believed the app used geolocation, though most supported public involvement in app development.

Conclusions:

• Promoting social acceptability requires improved communication about app features and addressing privacy concerns.
• Incentivizing adoption through design, incorporating inclusive socio-technical features, and fostering public-private partnerships are vital.
• Citizen engagement in the development and deployment of digital health tools enhances their acceptance and effectiveness.