Communication Design Quarterly Mar 2026 Open Access

Leveraging Persuasive Technologies for Global Health: Insights Across COVID-19 Digital Contact Tracing Technologies

Yeqing Kong Georgia Institute of Technology ; G. Edzordzi Agbozo University of North Carolina Wilmington ; Ian R. Weaver University of North Carolina Wilmington ; Anirban Ray University of North Carolina Wilmington

Abstract

This article examines how digital contact tracing technologies for COVID-19 in Ghana, the US, China, and India function as persuasive technologies. Through comparative analysis, we investigate how each context emphasizes persuasive design strategies and how these align with national public health objectives. We propose an extended Common Interpretive Framework for Design Analysis (eCIFDA), which integrates Persuasive Systems Design with Interaction Design to map persuasive techniques to touchpoints within apps and a website. This study offers insights for technical communication scholars and practitioners seeking to strengthen the persuasive effectiveness of digital health interventions across diverse geopolitical contexts.

Journal
Communication Design Quarterly
Published
2026-03-01
DOI
10.1145/3794916.3794918
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Open Access
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