Digital Tracing during the COVID-19 Pandemic: User Appraisal, Emotion, and Continuance Intention

Ayoung Suh,Mengjun Li

doi:10.3390/su13020608

Abstract

This study explores how people appraise the use of contact tracing apps during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in South Korea. Despite increasing attention paid to digital tracing for health disasters, few studies have empirically examined user appraisal, emotion, and their continuance intention to use contact tracing apps for disaster management during an infectious disease outbreak. A mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative inquiries was employed. In the qualitative study, by conducting interviews with 25 people who have used mobile apps for contact tracing, the way users appraise contact tracing apps for COVID-19 was explored. In the quantitative study, using data collected from 506 users of the apps, the interplay among cognitive appraisal (threats and opportunities) and its association with user emotion, and continuance intention was examined. The findings indicate that once users experience loss emotions, such as anger, frustration, and disgust, they are not willing to continue using the apps. App designers should consider providing technological affordances that enable users to have a sense of control over the technology so that they do not experience loss emotions. Public policymakers should also consider developing measures that can balance public health and personal privacy.

Highlights

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that began in late 2019 has presented an unprecedented challenge to public health across the globe
The results show that people experience positive emotions, such as achievement and challenge; the results indicate that people experience negative emotions, such as deterrence and loss
We tested our model with the partial least squares (PLS) method, a structural equation modeling (SEM) form that enables researchers to examine several factors affecting multiple dependent variables [45]

Summary

Introduction

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak that began in late 2019 has presented an unprecedented challenge to public health across the globe. COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus. It can cause a fever, cough, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and even death, especially among older adults or people with underlying health conditions (e.g., chronic diseases and respiratory problems) [1]. As of 16 December 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there were 71,581,532 confirmed cases of and 1,618,374 deaths from COVID-19 (https://COVID19.who.int/). In South Korea, diverse mobile applications have been developed and are widely used by those who want to obtain information about the movement of infected people Given the potential spread from asymptomatic patients, rapid testing and tracing for vulnerable populations is critical for the containment of the virus [2].

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Discussion

Conclusion