Monitoring university student response to social distancing policy during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic using Bluetooth: the RADAR study
Authors
Kirsty J. Bolton, Armando Mendez-Villalon, Henry Nanji, Ru Jia, Kieran Ayling, Grazziela Figueredo, Kavita Vedhara
Abstract
Aim: We use the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapses platform (RADAR) to collect Bluetooth contact and location data from university students. We test the ability of this technology to objectively capture social interaction, explore the propensity of students to respond to changing COVID-19 regulations, and investigate association between Bluetooth contact and mood.
Methods: RADAR data are coded by time period to reflect shifting COVID-19 restrictions. Mean contacts per event across setting, student living arrangement and over time are explored using non-parametric tests and generalised additive models. Individual-level associations between psychological measures of mood and Bluetooth contacts are considered.
Results: Students in halls of residence had higher contacts than students in private accommodation. Mean contacts per event peak in lockdown, driven by a rise in outdoor contacts. Indoor contacts peak during the earlier Tier 3 restrictions, similar to trends in Google Mobility data. We find weak evidence of correlation between positive mood and Bluetooth contact amongst students based in halls.
Conclusions: Passive tracking of Bluetooth contacts can provide insight into the behavioural response to changing public health interventions. Our results are consistent with students responding to policy changes similarly to the wider community.