An evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Covid-19 Bluetooth Exposure Notification Framework in New Zealand
Objective: Our primary research objective was to assess the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Bluetooth function of the New Zealand Covid Tracer App (NZCTA) throughout the pandemic. Methods: We adopted a retrospective cohort study design using all diagnosed COVID-19 community c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020024000736 |
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| author | Tim Chambers Andrew Anglemyer Andrew Chen June Atkinson Phoebe Elers Michael G. Baker |
| author_facet | Tim Chambers Andrew Anglemyer Andrew Chen June Atkinson Phoebe Elers Michael G. Baker |
| author_sort | Tim Chambers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Our primary research objective was to assess the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Bluetooth function of the New Zealand Covid Tracer App (NZCTA) throughout the pandemic. Methods: We adopted a retrospective cohort study design using all diagnosed COVID-19 community cases from December 12, 2020 to February 16, 2022. Results: At its height, more than 60% of the eligible population had the Bluetooth function of NZCTA activated. However, only an estimated 2.2% of the population was able to fully participate. Cases managed by the national case investigation service were 17 times (aRR 17.54, 95%CI: 13.02-23.90) and 9 times (aRR 9.27, 95%CI: 6.91, 12.76) more likely to generate a Bluetooth token than cases managed by local public health units during the Delta and Omicron periods, respectively. Conclusions: The Bluetooth functionality of the NZCTA likely had a low impact on the pandemic response in NZ despite its exceptionally high levels of public uptake. The primary reason for the lack of impact was the low utilisation by contact tracers. Implications for public health: The results highlight the need for greater consultation and collaboration with the public health sector during the development and implementation of digital contact tracing tools. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-aa4d7475c74e4c1a84af544e033a9936 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1326-0200 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-aa4d7475c74e4c1a84af544e033a99362024-12-08T06:09:13ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02002024-12-01486100197An evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Covid-19 Bluetooth Exposure Notification Framework in New ZealandTim Chambers0Andrew Anglemyer1Andrew Chen2June Atkinson3Phoebe Elers4Michael G. Baker5Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand; Correspondence to: Tim Chambers, 23a Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand; Tel.: +64 021 100 40 66Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandKoi Tū: The Centre for Informed Futures, The University of Auckland, New ZealandDepartment of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New ZealandDepartment of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New ZealandDepartment of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New ZealandObjective: Our primary research objective was to assess the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Bluetooth function of the New Zealand Covid Tracer App (NZCTA) throughout the pandemic. Methods: We adopted a retrospective cohort study design using all diagnosed COVID-19 community cases from December 12, 2020 to February 16, 2022. Results: At its height, more than 60% of the eligible population had the Bluetooth function of NZCTA activated. However, only an estimated 2.2% of the population was able to fully participate. Cases managed by the national case investigation service were 17 times (aRR 17.54, 95%CI: 13.02-23.90) and 9 times (aRR 9.27, 95%CI: 6.91, 12.76) more likely to generate a Bluetooth token than cases managed by local public health units during the Delta and Omicron periods, respectively. Conclusions: The Bluetooth functionality of the NZCTA likely had a low impact on the pandemic response in NZ despite its exceptionally high levels of public uptake. The primary reason for the lack of impact was the low utilisation by contact tracers. Implications for public health: The results highlight the need for greater consultation and collaboration with the public health sector during the development and implementation of digital contact tracing tools.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020024000736COVID-19digital contact tracingBluetoothexposure notification frameworkhealth equity |
| spellingShingle | Tim Chambers Andrew Anglemyer Andrew Chen June Atkinson Phoebe Elers Michael G. Baker An evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Covid-19 Bluetooth Exposure Notification Framework in New Zealand Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health COVID-19 digital contact tracing Bluetooth exposure notification framework health equity |
| title | An evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Covid-19 Bluetooth Exposure Notification Framework in New Zealand |
| title_full | An evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Covid-19 Bluetooth Exposure Notification Framework in New Zealand |
| title_fullStr | An evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Covid-19 Bluetooth Exposure Notification Framework in New Zealand |
| title_full_unstemmed | An evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Covid-19 Bluetooth Exposure Notification Framework in New Zealand |
| title_short | An evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the Covid-19 Bluetooth Exposure Notification Framework in New Zealand |
| title_sort | evaluation of the population uptake and contact tracer utilisation of the covid 19 bluetooth exposure notification framework in new zealand |
| topic | COVID-19 digital contact tracing Bluetooth exposure notification framework health equity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1326020024000736 |
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