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COVID-19 Apps as a Digital Intervention Policy: A Longitudinal Panel Data Analysis in South Korea

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  • Kim, Hwang

Abstract

Many countries have developed COVID-19 tracking apps that help individuals trace and detect “people” who are likely to have come in contact with confirmed patients. However, their adoption rates remain low. This study, therefore, investigated South Koreans’ adoption and usage behaviors of COVID-19 apps that detect the “place” where infectious people are found and alert people within 100m in dangerous zones. Our focus was on such apps’ impact on various facets of human life . Specifically, we analyzed mobile app usage data from 5,940 panelists at the start of the pandemic in South Korea and after the first major wave (January 6 to August 2, 2020). Findings showed that higher-income and more educated individuals were more likely to adopt COVID-19 apps early, and male and low-income people tended to use the COVID-19 tracking apps more frequently. In addition, this study offered empirical evidence of health protective behaviors, such as driving, shopping online, ordering food online, and avoiding travel and public transportation, and supported social- and religious-coping for people using COVID-19 apps. The implications are valuable for policy makers to implement a digital policy to motivate people to voluntarily engage in self-protective and coping behaviors through COVID-19 apps.

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  • Kim, Hwang, 2021. "COVID-19 Apps as a Digital Intervention Policy: A Longitudinal Panel Data Analysis in South Korea," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(11), pages 1430-1440.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:125:y:2021:i:11:p:1430-1440
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2021.07.003
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    1. Semykina, Anastasia & Wooldridge, Jeffrey M., 2010. "Estimating panel data models in the presence of endogeneity and selection," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 157(2), pages 375-380, August.
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    4. Eloïse Berger & Raphaële Castagné & Marc Chadeau-Hyam & Murielle Bochud & Angelo d’Errico & Martina Gandini & Maryam Karimi & Mika Kivimäki & Vittorio Krogh & Michael Marmot & Salvatore Panico & Marti, 2019. "Multi-cohort study identifies social determinants of systemic inflammation over the life course," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wang, Binhua & Ping, Yuan, 2022. "A comparative analysis of COVID-19 vaccination certificates in 12 countries/regions around the world: Rationalising health policies for international travel and domestic social activities during the p," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 126(8), pages 755-762.
    2. Ying Lian & Yueting Zhou & Xueying Lian & Xuefan Dong, 2022. "Cyber violence caused by the disclosure of route information during the COVID-19 pandemic," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-18, December.

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