Collecting behavioural data across countries during pandemics: Development of the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for tools to collect behavioral data for policy and practice.
• Understanding individual risk factors and behaviors is crucial for controlling infectious disease spread.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop the Your COVID-19 Risk online tool to assess personal risk and encourage health behavior change.
• To provide evidence-based information and support for individuals to protect themselves from COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• An online resource was created based on key behavioral evidence-based risk factors for COVID-19.
• Risk assessment involved questions on demographics, behaviors, and adherence to protective measures.
• A multidisciplinary team of over 150 international experts developed the tool.

Main Results:

• Over 60,000 users from 150+ countries accessed the tool, providing valuable behavioral data.
• The majority of users reported consistent physical distancing and handwashing practices.
• Collected data and tool insights were openly shared to support public health agencies.

Conclusions:

• The Your COVID-19 Risk tool successfully assessed risk and gathered global behavioral data.
• The tool's open sharing facilitated the development of behavior change interventions.
• This digital infrastructure serves as a replicable model for future pandemic preparedness.