Faculty of Psychology lecturer volunteers in Covid-19 risk detection tool development with international researchers

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The volunteers involved in the development of online risk detection tools for Covid-19 infection and transmission. (Photo: https://your-covid-19-risk.com)

UNAIR NEWS – Some researchers from Indonesia in collaboration with international teams have developed online test tool to estimate a person’s risk to be contracted and and to transmit the coronavirus. The online test was made based on the Science of Behavioral Change which is a branch of Psychology. The online tool can be accessed at https://your-covid-19-risk.com .

Triana Kesuma Dewi, Health Psychology Lecturer and Researcher, Faculty of Psychology (F.Psi), Airlangga University (UNAIR), which is affiliated with a research group from Indonesia, explained that the test equipment was different from the existing test kits.

The widely spread online tests do not explore the reasons why people do or do not do something, for example not keeping safe physical distance from others when such information is key in encouraging behavioral change in society.

“We made this tool based on the Reasoned Action Approach (Fishbein & AJzen, 2010). So it does not only see the behaviors displayed and not shown which affecting the risk of transmission, but also seeing what factors influence the behavior. Making it possible to identify what interventions are relevant to enhance the expected protective behavior, “he explained in a telephone interview on Friday, June 5, 2020.

Users of the test will know risk estimation of them being infected or transmit the coronavirus. The estimation is measured from three risk factors based on scientific studies, maintaining hand hygiene; maintaining a safe distance (social distancing) in public places; and staying at home or avoiding crowds.

“We want to see certain behaviors that became our focus, to calculate the risk whether they have a high additional risk to transmit this coronavirus. Additional risks here are things that we can control and change, not chronic or congenital illnesses suffered, “said the PhD candidate, Maastricht University, the Netherlands.

Triana said the idea of online test tool was originally by Gjalt-Jorn Peters from Open University and Sylvia Roozen from Maastricht University, the Netherlands. The test result data will be published in an open access repository, so that it can be accessed by anyone.

The tool, which has been worked on since March 2020, has been translated into 27 languages and launched in various countries in the world. This online detection tool was first launched in the Netherlands on May 7, 2020. While in Indonesia, people can try out the online test starting Saturday, June 6, 2020.

“We know that changing behavior is not an easy thing. Hopefully this test tool can provide recommendations in understanding the protective behavior related to COVID-19, the causing factors of the behavior, and what approaches are relevant for changing the behavior. Thus, we hope it can provide recommendations for the government and health organizations to make policies and public information relevant, ” she hoped.

For information, around 150 scientists from 35 countries in the world voluntarily support the development of the tool. Besides Triana, several researchers from Indonesia who were involved were Astin Sokang, PhD (UKRIDA); Sali Rahadi Asih, PhD (UI); Andrian Liem, PhD (University of Macau); and Ratri Nurwanti, M.Psi, psychologist (Universitas Brawijaya). (*)

Author: Erika Eight Novanty

Editor : Binti Q. Masruroh

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