A Smartphone App-based Information Portal for Accessing Locally Relevant Public Health Information for Rural Residents

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence showed that urban and rural populations held different attitudes toward the coronavirus pandemic due to differences in population density, lifestyle, and cultural and social norms. Project partners conducted interviews and focus groups with rural residents about their perception of the public health crisis, attitude toward following CDC guidelines, information access to public health-related national and local news information, and descriptive and injunctive norms about how others in their local communities were coping with the public health crisis. They then designed, developed, and evaluated a smartphone app to provide relevant public health information to rural residents. Additionally, they conducted a field pilot study to assess the use and impact of the app. Data generated from this study was anonymized and shared with local public health officials to better inform their policy and decision-making process. Research insights generated were published at academic venues and shared broadly within the IU Center for Rural Engagement community.