Information Disclosure Contents of the COVID-19 Data Dashboard Websites for South Korea, China, and Japan: A Comparative Study.

Bo Zhao,Mahyeon Kim,Eun Woo Nam

doi:10.3390/healthcare9111487

Abstract

Official responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have prioritized information disclosure. Timely and comprehensive information released by the authorities is conveyed mainly through dashboards, which can better inform the public and help them prepare for the pandemic. However, there is limited evidence regarding the COVID-19 dashboard data presentation for South Korea, China, and Japan. This study aimed to describe the current COVID-19 situation in the three countries and compare the information disclosure content on their COVID-19 dashboards. Based on the COVID-19 data released and updated by each country’s official authorities, two dashboard websites used by many people in each country were selected. We conducted content analysis and developed a checklist (39 items in five categories: cases, testing, vaccines, health information, and additional items) based on the structure of each country’s COVID-19 dashboard website to assess COVID-19 information disclosure. Japan experienced the worst outbreak among the three countries. They all provided basic dynamic data displayed on the dashboard, while the performance in key categories varied substantially between the countries (South Korea: 30/39 items; China: 25/39 items; Japan: 30/39 items). Moreover, as part of the publicly accessible information recorded by each nation, there were differences in the key indicators published and important facts disclosed. Improvement in reporting techniques and disclosure methods will help countries communicate more effectively with the public and conduct more efficient public health research.

Highlights

In December 2019, a new virus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)—that is, the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19)—was reported in Wuhan, HubeiProvince, China
Researchers have addressed the priority of prompt data and information disclosure for disease preparedness and response that allows for a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic [2]
This study aimed to review and analyze the COVID-19-related information disclosure content provided by the dashboards of the South Korean, Japanese, and Chinese governments to track the coronavirus pandemic and its associated data as the situation unfolded globally

Summary

Introduction

That is, the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19)—was reported in Wuhan, Hubei. It was initially called novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV and later renamed. It rapidly spread to other parts of China and other countries throughout the world, despite China’s massive efforts to contain the disease within Hubei. Technological advances in the 1990s, including data warehousing and the development of thought leadership with the increased demand for evidence-based decision-making, pushed all managers to find tools that could more monitor performance. This chain of changes has led to the development of intelligence tools, including dashboard software [6]. Stephen Few [6], an information design thought leader, provided a working description of a dashboard, which is “a visual representation of the most critical information required to fulfill one or more objectives, condensed on a single screen so that it can be monitored and understood at a glance”

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion