Collecting behavioural data across countries during pandemics: Development of the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool

Peters, Gjalt-Jorn, Kwasnicka, Dominika, ten Hoor, Gill, Crutzen, Rik, Varol, Tugce, Warner, Lisa Marie, Algargoosh, Mahdi, Ali, Eskinder Eshetu, Anwar, Mudassir, Asih, Sali Rahadi, Baltas, Zuhal Feryal, Berry, Emma, Beyene, Kebede, Campbell, Katarzyna Anna, Carneiro, Bruno Moreira, Castillo-Eito, Laura ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7082-0512, Chan, Amy Hai Yan, Chan, Samuel Suk-Hung, Cipolletta, Sabrina, DeSmet, Ann, Dewi, Triana Kesuma, Dima, Alexandra Lelia, Encantado, Jorge, Epton, Tracy, Figueiredo, Joao, Fracaroli, Gustavo DalCin, Gauchet, Aurelie, Gebretekle, Gebremedhin Beedemariam, Gerain, Pierre, Godinho, Cristina Albuquerque, Graham-Wisener, Lisa, Green, James A., Groarke, Jenny M., Gueltzow, Thomas, Guven, Elif Basak, Hermans, Roel C.J., Hermsen, Sander, Inauen, Jennifer, Kassianos, Angelos P., Kazantseva, Tatiana Valerievna, Keyaerts, Els, Koenig, Laura Maria, Lange, Daniela, Lauwerier, Emelien, Lie, Yongchan, Liem, Andrian, Luszczynska, Aleksandra, Marques, Marta M., Moore, Hannah Catherine, Noone, Chris, Nurmi, Johanna, Nurwanti, Ratri, Ozbay, Elif Suna, Palacz-Poborczyk, Iga, Pedruzzi, Rebecca Anne, Poppe, Louise, Porter, Lucy Mabel, Powell, Daniel, Rinaldi, Bruna Salati Nan, Ruffault, Alexis, Schmitz, Carsten, Scholz, Urte, Schweitzer, Ana-Maria, Selekoglu Ok, Yasemin, Shree, Medha, Silva, Carolina C., Sokang, Yasinta Astin, Tam, Albert W., Tang, Mei Yee, Tomaino, Silvia Caterina Maria, van Beurden, Samantha Barbara, Verweij, Stefan, Vluggen, Stan, Watkins, Rochelle E., Zorgo, Szilvia and Roozen, Sylvia (2025) Collecting behavioural data across countries during pandemics: Development of the COVID-19 Risk Assessment Tool. Behavior Research Methods, 57 (223). doi:10.3758/s13428-025-02743-x

Preview	Text 15145 Peters et al (2025) Collecting behavioural data.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Download (1MB) | Preview
	Text 15145 Peters et al (2025) Collecting behavioural data.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Introduction: Tools that can be used to collect behavioural data during pandemics are needed to inform policy and practice. The objective of this project was to develop the Your COVID-19 Risk tool in response to the global spread of COVID-19 aiming to promote health behaviour change. Methods: We developed an online resource based on key behavioural evidence-based risk factors related to contracting and spreading COVID-19. This tool allows for assessing risk and provides instant support to protect individuals from infection. The Risk Estimation Questions assessed users’ location, age, gender, work environment, day-to-day behaviours currently performed, and conditions under which these behaviours would change. Users were also asked to estimate how often they: keep their distance from others in public; regularly wash hands; and procedures they follow to do so. A multidisciplinary research team of more than 150 international experts developed the tool. Results: Over 60 000 users in more than 150 countries have assessed their risk and provided data. The majority of respondents reported that they almost always keep their distance from others in public places and most participants reported washing their hands after touching public or shared surfaces or when entering buildings. Discussion: The tool, data and results were openly shared to support government and health agencies developing behaviour change interventions. This tool creates a blueprint for similar digital infrastructure that can be replicated and used in future pandemics.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education and Science
Depositing User:	Laura Castillo Eito
Date Deposited:	15 Jul 2025 08:58
Last Modified:	18 Jul 2025 16:15
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/15145

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record