How to Build a COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool Using Google Forms

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, self-assessment tools have become crucial in identifying potential symptoms and providing guidance to individuals. Create a user-friendly COVID-19 self-assessment tool using Google Forms, following a step-by-step process for symptom evaluation and guidance.

Set up a New Google Form:

To set up a new Google Form for the COVID-19 self-assessment tool, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Google Forms and click on the “Blank” option to create a new form.
  2. Customize the layout, title, and theme of the form to align with your requirements.
  3. Add questions to the form that are relevant to the COVID-19 self-assessment tool.
  4. If necessary, use the “Upload file” feature to allow respondents to upload their own files to the form.
  5. Preview the form to ensure that it looks and functions as intended.
  6. Share the form with the intended audience via a direct link, embedding, or email.
  7. Monitor the responses and take appropriate action based on the results.

By setting up a new Google Form for the COVID-19 self-assessment tool, you can efficiently collect data and responses from your audience. Customizing the layout, title, and theme of the form can help make it more visually appealing and engaging for respondents.

Design the Questionnaire:

Here is a sample list of questions that can be included in a COVID-19 self-assessment questionnaire:

  1. Have you experienced any of the following symptoms in the past 14 days? (Check all that apply)
  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  1. Have you traveled outside of your local area in the past 14 days? If yes, where did you go?
  2. Have you been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 14 days?
  3. Have you been advised to self-quarantine or self-isolate by a healthcare provider or public health official in the past 14 days?
  4. Do you have any pre-existing health conditions that may put you at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19? (Check all that apply)
  • Chronic lung disease
  • Serious heart conditions
  • Immunocompromised
  • Severe obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis
  • Liver disease

These questions are based on commonly found symptoms, exposure, and risk factors associated with COVID-19. It’s important to customize the questionnaire based on the specific needs and requirements of the organization or audience.

Include Educational Content:

When designing the form, it is indeed beneficial to include relevant educational content to ensure respondents are well-informed. Here are some key points you can include:

  1. Preventive Measures:
    • Provide information on basic preventive measures such as hand hygiene, wearing masks, and maintaining physical distance.
    • Emphasize the importance of following local health guidelines and regulations.
  2. Testing Protocols:
    • Explain the importance of COVID-19 testing and how it helps in identifying and controlling the spread of the virus.
    • Provide guidance on where and how individuals can get tested in their area.
  3. Self-Isolation:
    • Educate respondents about the concept of self-isolation and its significance in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
    • Offer guidance on when and how to self-isolate if they develop symptoms or come into contact with a confirmed case.
  4. Additional Resources:
    • Provide links to reputable sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or local health department websites for more detailed information.
    • Include resources that offer guidance specific to schools, workplaces, or other relevant settings.

By incorporating educational content throughout the form, you can help respondents make informed decisions and take appropriate actions to protect themselves and others.

Add Validation and Restrictions:

o enhance data accuracy in the COVID-19 self-assessment tool, you can utilize form validation and restrictions. Here are some methods that can be used:

  1. Set up required questions: Use the “Required” feature in Google Forms to make certain questions mandatory for respondents to answer.
  2. Validate responses: Use the “Response Validation” feature in Google Forms to restrict the type of responses that can be filled into a certain field based on some criteria. For example, you can validate text responses based on the inclusion or exclusion of a text string, a correctly formatted email address, or a URL.
  3. Limit input formats: Use the “Data Validation” feature in Google Forms to limit input formats such as email or phone numbers.

By utilizing these features, you can ensure that the data collected from the COVID-19 self-assessment tool is accurate and consistent.

Enable Notifications:

To enable notifications for the COVID-19 self-assessment tool, you can configure email notifications to receive alerts whenever a new response is submitted. This enables prompt follow-up with individuals who may require further assistance or immediate attention. Here are the steps to enable notifications:

  1. Open the Google Form for which you want to enable notifications.
  2. Click on the “Responses” tab located in the top menu.
  3. Click on the “More” icon (three vertical dots) located in the top-right corner of the page.
  4. Select “Get email notifications for new responses” from the dropdown menu.
  5. Enter the email address(es) where you want to receive the notifications.
  6. Customize the notification settings as desired.
  7. Save your changes.

By enabling notifications for the COVID-19 self-assessment tool, you can receive alerts whenever a new response is submitted and take appropriate action based on the results.

Customize the Confirmation Message:

To customize the confirmation message displayed after form submission, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open the Google Form for which you want to customize the confirmation message.
  2. Click on the “Settings” (gear icon) located in the top-right corner of the form editor.
  3. In the settings menu, navigate to the “Presentation” tab.
  4. Locate the “Confirmation message” section and click on the “Edit” button.
  5. In the confirmation message editor, create a personalized message that includes instructions, resources, and contact information for additional support or assistance.
  6. Use lists and paragraphs to format the message as desired.
  7. Save your changes.

By customizing the confirmation message, you can provide respondents with relevant information and resources that can help them take appropriate actions based on the results of the self-assessment tool.

Analyze Responses:

To analyze responses from a Google Form, you have a few options available:

  1. Google Forms Built-in Analysis:
    • Open your form and click on the “Responses” tab to access the collected responses.
    • Here, you can view the results from everyone who has responded so far, along with several options for analysis.
    • Google Forms provides a summary of responses, including charts and graphs, to give you a quick overview.
    • You can toggle between a summary of responses and individual responses.
  2. Google Sheets Integration:
    • Google Forms can automatically create a spreadsheet in Google Sheets to store the responses.
    • By linking your form to a Google Sheets spreadsheet, you can perform more advanced analysis using the features available in Sheets.
    • This allows you to explore trends, monitor symptom patterns, and gather insights from the collected data.
  3. Third-Party Tools:
    • There are third-party tools and add-ons available, such as Advanced Summary for Google Forms, that provide enhanced analysis capabilities.
    • These tools offer additional features like filtering, data mining, and more detailed and precise analysis of the responses.

By utilizing these options, you can analyze the responses from your Google Form and gain insights to support public health efforts.

Share the Form:

To widely distribute the COVID-19 self-assessment tool, you can share the form via email, social media, websites, or other relevant channels. Here are some steps you can follow:

  1. Share via email: Send the form link via email to your target audience, such as employees, students, or community members.
  2. Share via social media: Share the form link on your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
  3. Share via websites: Embed the form on your website or share the form link on relevant websites, such as school or workplace websites.
  4. Consider translations or accessibility options: Translate the form into different languages or provide accessibility options, such as audio or visual aids, to cater to diverse populations.

By widely distributing the COVID-19 self-assessment tool, you can reach a larger audience and promote public health efforts.

FAQs

Q: What is a COVID-19 self-assessment tool?

Answer: A COVID-19 self-assessment tool is a questionnaire designed to help individuals evaluate their symptoms, exposure, and risk factors related to COVID-19. It provides guidance based on the responses given.

Q: Can I customize the appearance of the COVID-19 self-assessment form?

Answer: Yes, you can customize the layout, title, and theme of the COVID-19 self-assessment form in Google Forms to align with your preferences or branding.

Q: Are there any specific questions I should include in the COVID-19 self-assessment tool?

Answer: Include questions about symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, difficulty breathing), travel history, contact with confirmed cases, and pre-existing health conditions to assess COVID-19 risks effectively.

Q: Can I receive notifications when someone submits the COVID-19 self-assessment form?

Answer: Yes, you can configure email notifications in Google Forms to receive alerts whenever a new response is submitted. This allows for prompt follow-up if necessary.

Q: How can I ensure the accuracy of the data collected through the COVID-19 self-assessment tool?

Answer: Use form validation and restrictions in Google Forms to enhance data accuracy. Set up required questions, validate responses, and limit input formats if needed.

Q: Can I analyze the responses collected through the COVID-19 self-assessment tool?

Answer: Yes, you can access response data in Google Forms or link the form to a Google Sheets spreadsheet for more advanced analysis. This helps identify trends and gather insights.

Q: How should I share the COVID-19 self-assessment tool with others?

Answer: Share the COVID-19 self-assessment tool via email, social media, websites, or other relevant channels. Consider translations or accessibility options to reach a diverse audience.

Q: Is the COVID-19 self-assessment tool available in different languages?

Answer: Yes, you can create the COVID-19 self-assessment tool in multiple languages by customizing the form’s content to cater to different language speakers.

Q: Can I update the COVID-19 self-assessment tool as guidelines or recommendations change?

Answer: Yes, you can update the COVID-19 self-assessment tool at any time by editing the form in Google Forms. This allows you to align the tool with the latest guidelines and recommendations.

Q: Is it possible to integrate the COVID-19 self-assessment tool with other platforms or applications?

Answer: Google Forms offers various integration options. You can explore integrations with other platforms or applications to enhance the functionality and data management of the COVID-19 self-assessment tool.

Building a COVID-19 self-assessment tool using Google Forms empowers individuals to evaluate their symptoms, receive guidance, and contribute to public health efforts. Follow the steps provided and make a positive impact by promoting awareness and responsible actions in your community.