Abstract: Official responses to the COVID?19 pandemic have prioritized information disclosure.
Timely and comprehensive information released by the authorities is conveyed mainly through
dashboards, which can better inform the public and help them prepare for the pandemic. However,
there is limited evidence regarding the COVID?19 dashboard data presentation for South Korea,
China, and Japan. This study aimed to describe the current COVID?19 situation in the three
countries and compare the information disclosure content on their COVID?19 dashboards. Based on
the COVID?19 data released and updated by each country’s official authorities, two dashboard
websites used by many people in each country were selected. We conducted content analysis and
developed a checklist (39 items in five categories: cases, testing, vaccines, health information, and
additional items) based on the structure of each country’s COVID?19 dashboard website to assess
COVID?19 information disclosure. Japan experienced the worst outbreak among the three countries.
They all provided basic dynamic data displayed on the dashboard, while the performance in key
categories varied substantially between the countries (South Korea: 30/39 items; China: 25/39 items;
Japan: 30/39 items). Moreover, as part of the publicly accessible information recorded by each nation,
there were differences in the key indicators published and important facts disclosed. Improvement
in reporting techniques and disclosure methods will help countries communicate more effectively
with the public and conduct more efficient public health research.
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