Research Insights: Health communication technology and COVID-19

Health Communication Technology (HCT) has become a hot topic, especially after the recent pandemic. Quang Bui, Associate Professor, and Emi Moriuchi, Associate Professor, both in Saunders College Department of MIS, Marketing, and Analytics, studied the use and effectiveness of dashboards and tracking apps as regards individual compliance disposition toward COVID-19 public health measures. The study was published as “Effectiveness of Health Communication Technology on Compliance Disposition of Covid-19 Guidelines” in Communications of the Association for Information Systems.

Bui and Moriuchi surveyed 360 respondents between October and November 2020, at the height of the pandemic. The study revealed that, during health emergencies, users of dashboards and tracking apps are more concerned with the substance rather than the format of the information. Nevertheless, they highly value the accessibility and presentation of the information supplied by HCT.

Users are swayed by the opinions of peers. Also, trust in government plays a role in subject compliance with health guidelines. Findings highlight the role of HCT as  an important element in informing the public and encouraging compliance, for example with getting vaccinations. Therefore, health officials should reach out to community leaders and prominent figures to exert influence.

View paper in Communications of the Association for Information Systems (2023), Effectiveness of Health Communication Technology on Compliance Disposition of Covid-19 Guidelines.