Mobile Applications to Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Saudi Arabia Cover Image

Mobile Applications to Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Saudi Arabia
Mobile Applications to Fight against COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case of Saudi Arabia

Author(s): Imdadullah Hidayat-ur-Rehman, Arshad Ahmad, Ahmed Manzoor, Aftab Alam
Subject(s): Social Informatics, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: UIKTEN - Association for Information Communication Technology Education and Science
Keywords: Mobile applications; COVID-19; telehealth; health monitoring; contact tracing; virus transmission; crisis management

Summary/Abstract: In order to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic the government of Saudi Arabia launched three mobile applications namely Tetamman, Tabaud & Tawakkalna to keep the public aware about the corona virus and ensure monitoring of the suspected cases. The objective of this study is to curb the spread of COVID-19 by enhancing social measures and investigate the role of mobile applications in achievement of this objective. Comprehensive review of the role of mobile applications was made and a survey approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of these applications. Findings of the study indicate that the users perceive that the applications are successful in achievement of the objectives for which these applications were launched. The key performance indicators (KPIs) included in the survey were efficiency, ease of use, satisfaction of users, fulfilment of purpose, usefulness and helpfulness etc. The average number of respondents, who agreed that these applications are performing according to the mentioned KPIs, is 86.6% for Tetamman, 80.5% for Tabaud and 90% for Tawakkalna. More awareness campaigns are needed so that more people adopt the use of these applications, which could significantly help in identification of new casesand enhance telehealth and teleconsultations. Moreover, the applications should be upgraded for self-triage

  • Issue Year: 10/2021
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 69-77
  • Page Count: 9
  • Language: English