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‘Barely keeping the wheels on the trolley’: A qualitative study of the New Zealand COVID Tracer App

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  • Elers, Phoebe
  • Derrett, Sarah
  • Emery, Tepora
  • Chambers, Tim

Abstract

Digital contact tracing apps were developed to help control the spread of COVID-19 but research exploring these apps has underrepresented both ‘at-risk’ communities and contact tracers. Our study examines perspectives of the New Zealand COVID Tracer app among 53 participants, comprising policy advisors, contact tracers, and Māori, Pacific, and disability stakeholders, underpinned by the theory of social construction of which positions technology within the social context in which it evolves, operates, and is negotiated. Although community stakeholders believed the app helped safeguard communities from COVID-19, the health officials' views on the app's usefulness in contact tracing varied. Participants who oversaw the app's technical development generally perceived it as being more useful, particularly regarding Bluetooth proximity detection, in contrast with contact tracers' perceptions. The findings highlight a disconnection between public sentiment and operational reality in the use of the app and the need for improved collaboration and consultation in future contact tracing responses.

Suggested Citation

  • Elers, Phoebe & Derrett, Sarah & Emery, Tepora & Chambers, Tim, 2024. "‘Barely keeping the wheels on the trolley’: A qualitative study of the New Zealand COVID Tracer App," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 356(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:356:y:2024:i:c:s0277953624006002
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117147
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Howell, Bronwyn E. & Potgieter, Petrus H., 2022. "COVID-19 contact-tracing smartphone application usage—The New Zealand COVID Tracer experience," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(8).
    2. Michelle Kendall & Daphne Tsallis & Chris Wymant & Andrea Francia & Yakubu Balogun & Xavier Didelot & Luca Ferretti & Christophe Fraser, 2023. "Epidemiological impacts of the NHS COVID-19 app in England and Wales throughout its first year," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Chambers, Tim & Anglemyer, Andrew & Chen, Andrew Tzer-Yeu & Baker, Michael G., 2024. "An evaluation of the COVID-19 self-service digital contact tracing system in New Zealand," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    4. David Byrne, 2022. "A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic analysis," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1391-1412, June.
    5. Tzay-An Shiau & Chia-Chin Chuang, 2015. "Social construction of port sustainability indicators: a case study of Keelung Port," Maritime Policy & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 42(1), pages 26-42, January.
    6. Madsen, Herle Mo & Brown, Rebekah & Elle, Morten & Mikkelsen, Peter Steen, 2017. "Social construction of stormwater control measures in Melbourne and Copenhagen: A discourse analysis of technological change, embedded meanings and potential mainstreaming," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 198-209.
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