COVID-19 Social Distancing Case Study

Who:

Conducted as a Site Lead and Clinical Research Coordinator at All of Us Research Program.

Mission:

To enroll one million or more participants into All of Us Research in the U.S. to create the most diverse and large research database in history. This aims to improve precision medicine and in this case with the COVID-19 initiative in looking at social distancing behaviors and habits case study. All populations and aspects of health are considered. Analysis of information utilizing data gathered from surveys created by All of Us Research.

Purpose of this study:

To gain further insight on COVID-19 social distancing habits and behaviors between May 2020 - Feb 2021 using curated data from All of Us Research.

Questions asked to All of Us Research participants:

In the past month, has socially distancing caused stress for you?
In the last 5 days, how often have you stayed home?
In the last 5 days, have you been in contact with someone who is at risk for COVID-19?
In the past 5 days, what amount of time have you interacted with people outside of your home?
In the past month, how often are you following recommended hygiene practices?

Assumptions made prior to analysis:

Participants are stressed socially distancing, following hygiene recommendations, staying at home most of the time, staying away from COVID-19 risk groups, and socially interacting mainly with those who are at home.

Methods Used:

Surveys: in a hospital, clinical, at home setting, on the phone, or on the go.
Interviews: in a hospital setting, clinic, or on the phone.

Technology used:

Participants were surveyed by using iPads, phones, phone calls, computers utilizing the All of Us website, and the All of Us app available on Apple and Android.

Additional Methods used to gather relevant data in current and future studies.

Click for more information on Data Sources utilized and Methods.

After data has been captured, it is then harmonized and curated for further analysis.

Results

Participants reported that social distance caused a little or not at all stress levels.
Participants stayed home most days and all days in the last 5 days.
Participants report having been around COVID-19 at risk population none of the days or every day.
Participants report being outside of the home a lot less than normal or somewhat less than normal.
Participants report following recommended hygiene guidelines all of the time or most of the time with a combined 95%.

Conclusion

Expected

During analysis of the data, expected results were as follows:

Participants not spending much time with others outside of the home
Participants following hygiene recommendations most or all of the time
Participants staying home most or all of the time

Unexpected

During analysis of the data, unexpected results were as follows:

Being exposed to COVID-19 risk population
Participants not incredibly stressed due to social distancing

In conclusion, these unexpected results could be due to traveling to work, school, for errands, or living with those who are at risk for COVID-19. Social distancing also may have been ameliorated as technological advances are available for socializing and entertainment available at home. In addition, the age population who greatly answered these survey questions were between 60-69 years of age meaning they are well established with activities that take time in the home space and do not require much travel.

For more information on results and other surveys please visit this link.