JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The NHS COVID-19 application was England's response to limit the spread of COVID-19. At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic and since many questions have been raised regarding the effectiveness of this application and of if digital contact tracing applications have a use in future pandemics.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to explore the key barriers to the adoption of digital contact tracing apps (DCTAs) in England during the COVID-19 pandemic and use the learnings from this to aid the adoption of DCTAs in the future.

Methods:

Semi-structured virtual video interviews conducted with professionals in the public health and digital health fields, clinicians, health care law and health executives. Initial use of maximum variation sampling combined with snowball sampling approach ensured diversity within the cohort of interviewees. Interview transcripts were then analysed using Braun and Clarke’s Six Steps for Thematic Analysis.

Results:

Interviewees shared the sentiment of privacy concerns due to poor communication and a lack of transparency from the government over the NHS COVID-19 app, thus leading to a lack of trust in the app. The inaccessibility to technology, digital illiteracy and user accessibility were raised as another obstacle to app adoption. The lack of social support integration within the DCTA and delayed app notification period also contributed to the poor adoption rates.

Conclusions:

To increase the adoption of digital contact tracing apps in the future, the barriers of privacy concerns, communication from the government, digital illiteracy, access to technology and integration of support networks within the apps must be addressed and overcome. Should there be a necessity to contact trace nationwide in the future, DCTAs should be already prepared, in advance, to be launched and rolled out to the whole population. Clinical Trial: N/A