Evaluation of a public COVID-19 dashboard in the Western Cape, South Africa: a tool for communication, trust, and transparency

BMC Public Health

Research

Melvin Moodley¹  Theuns Jacobs¹  Jamy-Lee Bam¹  Pierre Dane²  Alexa Heekes²  Masudah Paleker³  Inneke Laenen³  Erna Morden⁴  Mariette Smith⁴  Hannah Hussey⁴  Muzzammil Ismail⁴  Mehreen Hunter⁴  Mary-Ann Davies⁵  Andrew Boulle⁵  Themba Mutemaringa⁶ 

[1] Health Intelligence Directorate, Western Cape Government: Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa;Health Intelligence Directorate, Western Cape Government: Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa;Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, Cape Town, South Africa;Health Intelligence Directorate, Western Cape Government: Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa;Division of Health Systems and Public Health, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa;Health Intelligence Directorate, Western Cape Government: Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa;School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa;Health Intelligence Directorate, Western Cape Government: Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa;School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa;Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, Cape Town, South Africa;Health Intelligence Directorate, Western Cape Government: Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa;School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 7925, Cape Town, South Africa;Computational Biology Division, Integrative Biomedical Sciences Department, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa;

关键词: COVID-19;    Dashboard;    Western Cape;    South Africa;    Digital;    Pandemic;    Data;    Evaluation;    Impact;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-022-14657-w

 received in 2022-05-24, accepted in 2022-11-17,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPublic health dashboards have been used in the past to communicate and guide local responses to outbreaks, epidemics, and a host of various health conditions. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, dashboards proliferated but the availability and quality differed across the world. This study aimed to evaluate the quality, access, and end-user experience of one such dashboard in the Western Cape province, South Africa.MethodsWe analysed retrospective aggregate data on viewership over time for the first year since launch of the dashboard (30 April 2020 – 29 April 2021) and conducted a cross-sectional survey targeting adult users of the dashboard at one year post the initial launch. The self-administered, anonymous questionnaire with a total of 13 questions was made available via an online digital survey tool for a 2-week period (6 May 2021 – 21 May 2021).ResultsAfter significant communication by senior provincial political leaders, adequate media coverage and two waves of COVID-19 the Western Cape public COVID-19 dashboard attracted a total of 2,248,456 views during its first year. The majority of these views came from Africa/South Africa with higher median daily views during COVID-19 wave periods. A total of 794 participants responded to the survey questionnaire. Reported devices used to access the dashboard differed statistically between occupational status groups with students tending toward using mobile devices whilst employed and retired participants tending toward using desktop computers/laptops. Frequency of use increases with increasing age with 65.1% of those > 70 years old viewing it daily. Overall, 76.4% of respondents reported that the dashboard influenced their personal planning and behaviour. High Likert score ratings were given for clarity, ease of use and overall end-user experience, with no differences seen across the various age groups surveyed.ConclusionThe study demonstrated that both the availability of data and an understanding of end-user need is critical when developing and delivering public health tools that may ultimately garner public trust and influence individual behaviour.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022

【 图 表 】

Fig. 2

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

12864_2022_9026_Article_IEq202.gif

Fig. 1