Call for Concept Notes - Comparative Review of First Aid App

Background

Through the Universal App Program, the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC) and the Global First Aid Reference Center have created a platform to facilitate the adaption and localization of mobile applications (apps) with first aid and hazard information for use in countries across the globe, putting preparedness information directly into people’s hands. As part of the program, the GDPC closely works with Red Cross/Red Crescent (RC/RC) national societies to facilitate the adaptation and localization of app content. In May 2013, the GDPC launched the pilot program in 17 countries. Today the First Aid app is live in 56 countries worldwide with over 40 national societies in the process of development in addition to the Hazard app being live in 15 countries. As of February 2015, the First Aid app has over one million downloads and counting. The program is well on its way towards its target of releasing the First Aid app in 100 countries by 2016.

The performance of all live apps and related user engagement is tracked using APIs from Google Analytics and App Figures. These sources provide national societies with the ability to monitor numerous data points including: number of downloads, number of new and/or active users, location of users, screen views, average session duration, and mobile device and operating system. To leverage the growing institutional experience and further support the implementation and roll out of First Aid apps there is need for an in-depth study on the success factors of the program.

Purpose

The diversity of countries participating in the program brings with it interest to gain a better understanding of how the apps are being used in the context of national society programming and for the benefit of the end users. Here it needs to be distinguished between success as it relates to the participation of national societies in the Universal App program and the success of the actual app in country, i.e. to support personal preparedness and First Aid learning.

With a growing number of countries involved in the Universal App program, a comprehensive comparative review of the program elements should consider different regions, cultural, demographic or socioeconomic aspects as well as determinants of First Aid app use and knowledge transfer of the app content. This research will increase understanding of how apps can support national society service delivery for First Aid and enhance overall preparedness levels of the population. Research findings will contribute to future program developments and support potential app enhancements.

The diversity of countries participating in the program brings with it interest to gain a better understanding of how the apps are being used in the context of national society programming and for the benefit of the end users. The current analysis tools provide valuable insights into the dissemination of the First Aid apps and allow for general assumption on the abilities of the apps to support national society programming. Building on the institutional experiences of the GDPC and National Societies with the roll-out of the First Aid app it is of interest to do a more comprehensive analysis of how the apps are being used by the National Societies and public in the participating countries. Such an analysis will generate further knowledge on the opportunities for knowledge transfer and raising personal preparedness levels through the apps.

In order to assess relative impacts of and experiences with the use of the First Aid app in different countries, it is first relevant to establish what constitutes ‘success’ in the context of the Universal App Program. With a growing number of countries involved in the Universal App program, the comprehensive comparative review of the program elements will then consider different regions, cultural, demographic or socioeconomic aspects as well as determinants of First Aid app use and knowledge transfer of the app content. The findings of this research will increase understanding of how apps can support national society service delivery for First Aid and enhance overall preparedness levels of the population. Research findings will contribute to future program developments and support potential app enhancements.