Digital tools as information aids for self-care in the time of COVID-19 in Peru

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the study was to analyze the metrics available for digital tools fostering self-care to understand their effects on the population in the time of COVID-19. A search was conducted about websites, mobile applications and social networks offering information to the population about COVID-19 and belonging to the Peruvian government or health-related official institutions. A review was performed of the metrics available for each digital tool with a view to an eventual evaluation of their use. The websites identified provided information about COVID-19 as well as updated data about existing cases, self-evaluation to rule out the disease and the report of results of diagnostic tests. The most visited website was that of the Government of Peru, which contained the website of the Ministry of Health. The mobile application of the Government of Peru "PerúEnTusManos" was the most commonly downloaded by the Peruvian population. Social networks, in joint cooperation with these digital tools, are actively used in Peru to inform and interact with the population in the time of COVID-19. Due to the rapid adaptability of websites and mobile applications, these have become an ideal information tool in Peru to face the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2021, Centro Nacional de Informacion de Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.