Feasibility of digital contact tracing in low-income settings – pilot trial for a location-based DCT app
Abstract Background Data about the effectiveness of digital contact tracing are based on studies conducted in countries with predominantly high- or middle-income settings. Up to now, little research is done to identify specific problems for the implementation of such technique in low-income countrie...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14888-x |
| _version_ | 1797945649540366336 |
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| author | Eric Handmann Sia Wata Camanor Mosoka P. Fallah Neima Candy Davidetta Parker André Gries Thomas Grünewald |
| author_facet | Eric Handmann Sia Wata Camanor Mosoka P. Fallah Neima Candy Davidetta Parker André Gries Thomas Grünewald |
| author_sort | Eric Handmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Data about the effectiveness of digital contact tracing are based on studies conducted in countries with predominantly high- or middle-income settings. Up to now, little research is done to identify specific problems for the implementation of such technique in low-income countries. Methods A Bluetooth-assisted GPS location-based digital contact tracing (DCT) app was tested by 141 participants during 14 days in a hospital in Monrovia, Liberia in February 2020. The DCT app was compared to a paper-based reference system. Hits between participants and 10 designated infected participants were recorded simultaneously by both methods. Additional data about GPS and Bluetooth adherence were gathered and surveys to estimate battery consumption and app adherence were conducted. DCT apps accuracy was evaluated in different settings. Results GPS coordinates from 101/141 (71.6%) participants were received. The number of hours recorded by the participants during the study period, true Hours Recorded (tHR), was 496.3 h (1.1% of maximum Hours recordable) during the study period. With the paper-based method 1075 hits and with the DCT app five hits of designated infected participants with other participants have been listed. Differences between true and maximum recording times were due to failed permission settings (45%), data transmission issues (11.3%), of the participants 10.1% switched off GPS and 32.5% experienced other technical or compliance problems. In buildings, use of Bluetooth increased the accuracy of the DCT app (GPS + BT 22.9 m ± 21.6 SD vs. GPS 60.9 m ± 34.7 SD; p = 0.004). GPS accuracy in public transportation was 10.3 m ± 10.05 SD with a significant (p = 0.007) correlation between precision and phone brand. GPS resolution outdoors was 10.4 m ± 4.2 SD. Conclusion In our study several limitations of the DCT together with the impairment of GPS accuracy in urban settings impede the solely use of a DCT app. It could be feasible as a supplement to traditional manual contact tracing. DKRS, DRKS00029327 . Registered 20 June 2020 - Retrospectively registered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:58:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0ecba9e5d6664c92a5a3f2172ea52aa1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T20:58:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-0ecba9e5d6664c92a5a3f2172ea52aa12023-01-22T12:27:37ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-01-0123111610.1186/s12889-022-14888-xFeasibility of digital contact tracing in low-income settings – pilot trial for a location-based DCT appEric Handmann0Sia Wata Camanor1Mosoka P. Fallah2Neima Candy3Davidetta Parker4André Gries5Thomas Grünewald6Department for Emergency Medicine, University Hospital LeipzigJFK HospitalNational Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL)National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL)JFK HospitalDepartment for Emergency Medicine, University Hospital LeipzigClinic for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine and Department for Hospital and Environmental Hygiene, Klinikum ChemnitzAbstract Background Data about the effectiveness of digital contact tracing are based on studies conducted in countries with predominantly high- or middle-income settings. Up to now, little research is done to identify specific problems for the implementation of such technique in low-income countries. Methods A Bluetooth-assisted GPS location-based digital contact tracing (DCT) app was tested by 141 participants during 14 days in a hospital in Monrovia, Liberia in February 2020. The DCT app was compared to a paper-based reference system. Hits between participants and 10 designated infected participants were recorded simultaneously by both methods. Additional data about GPS and Bluetooth adherence were gathered and surveys to estimate battery consumption and app adherence were conducted. DCT apps accuracy was evaluated in different settings. Results GPS coordinates from 101/141 (71.6%) participants were received. The number of hours recorded by the participants during the study period, true Hours Recorded (tHR), was 496.3 h (1.1% of maximum Hours recordable) during the study period. With the paper-based method 1075 hits and with the DCT app five hits of designated infected participants with other participants have been listed. Differences between true and maximum recording times were due to failed permission settings (45%), data transmission issues (11.3%), of the participants 10.1% switched off GPS and 32.5% experienced other technical or compliance problems. In buildings, use of Bluetooth increased the accuracy of the DCT app (GPS + BT 22.9 m ± 21.6 SD vs. GPS 60.9 m ± 34.7 SD; p = 0.004). GPS accuracy in public transportation was 10.3 m ± 10.05 SD with a significant (p = 0.007) correlation between precision and phone brand. GPS resolution outdoors was 10.4 m ± 4.2 SD. Conclusion In our study several limitations of the DCT together with the impairment of GPS accuracy in urban settings impede the solely use of a DCT app. It could be feasible as a supplement to traditional manual contact tracing. DKRS, DRKS00029327 . Registered 20 June 2020 - Retrospectively registered.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14888-xAppDigital contact tracingLow incomeGPS trackingLocation basedPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Eric Handmann Sia Wata Camanor Mosoka P. Fallah Neima Candy Davidetta Parker André Gries Thomas Grünewald Feasibility of digital contact tracing in low-income settings – pilot trial for a location-based DCT app BMC Public Health App Digital contact tracing Low income GPS tracking Location based Public health |
| title | Feasibility of digital contact tracing in low-income settings – pilot trial for a location-based DCT app |
| title_full | Feasibility of digital contact tracing in low-income settings – pilot trial for a location-based DCT app |
| title_fullStr | Feasibility of digital contact tracing in low-income settings – pilot trial for a location-based DCT app |
| title_full_unstemmed | Feasibility of digital contact tracing in low-income settings – pilot trial for a location-based DCT app |
| title_short | Feasibility of digital contact tracing in low-income settings – pilot trial for a location-based DCT app |
| title_sort | feasibility of digital contact tracing in low income settings pilot trial for a location based dct app |
| topic | App Digital contact tracing Low income GPS tracking Location based Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14888-x |
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