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Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Op-ed
This op-ed discusses the minimal progress that has been made towards understanding the causes and treatment of long COVID. The main crux of the author’s argument is that long COVID is essentially the same condition as post-infectious syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Thus, long COVID is actually not a new condition, but rather something triggered by acute COVID in the same way that many other illnesses can trigger ME/CFS in individuals. ME/CFS itself is not well-understood, but the years of research and patient experiences with the condition could be applied to the body of long COVID research for the advancement of both causes.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Peer Review Study
This report discusses a series of interventions that Genesis HealthCare, one of the largest long-term care providers in the US, implemented in response to lower COVID-19 vaccination uptake among Hispanic and black Genesis staff members. The organization’s Vaccine Acceptance Steering Committee worked with their DEI Committee to develop a more comprehensive education strategy to improve vaccination acceptance among BIPOC staff that included offering vaccine information sessions at all times of the day and the night, inviting staff family members and friends to participate in these sessions, creating more multilingual educational materials, and featuring DEI Committee members in the organization’s social media campaigns. At the end of the one month intervention, statistically significant improvements in the likelihood of being vaccinated compared with white staff members increased for black and Hispanic employees.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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White Paper/Brief
This article explores the challenges of communicating public health guidance during a pandemic, focusing on the example of mask recommendations in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. It underscores the ethical dilemmas faced by public health officials in balancing transparency with evolving scientific knowledge and resource shortages. Initially, there was hesitation in recommending masks for the general public due to concerns about mask shortages, leading to mixed messaging. As evidence supporting mask effectiveness grew, guidance shifted to advocating universal mask use, contributing to public confusion and mistrust. The article underscores two key ethical principles: the precautionary principle, advocating for protective action in uncertain situations, and harm reduction, emphasizing minimizing harm when complete risk elimination is unfeasible. It also highlights the importance of transparent communication but acknowledges that excessive transparency can sometimes cause confusion and mistrust. To enhance public health communication during uncertainty and resource scarcity, the article recommends utilizing trusted messengers, structuring uncertainty, acknowledging the role of values in recommendations, and recognizing emotional responses to risk information.
Best Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities.
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Book
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the vital role of public health but also revealed communication challenges and misconceptions about the field. This book, published by de Beaumont Foundation, details evidence-based best practices for talking about the what public health is and why it matters. It offers tools for more impactful communication, practical insights, and guidance for how public health practitioners can strengthen community partnerships. The book encourages a shift in the perception of public health professionals as bureaucratic specialists and emphasizes the need for better communication and partnerships to address future public health challenges.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Toolkit
This worksheet offers a user guide to developing and disseminating messages about public health’s importance and successes. It is a short resource developed by the Illinois Strategic Communication Leadership Project, intended to help users organize thinking and identify themes. It offers a few examples of overarching messages concerning the importance of public health as a field.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This resource discusses the importance of health communication, especially during crises like pandemics. It covers various aspects of health communication, including its definition, strategies for effective campaigns, types of health communication, and relevant communication theories. Public health professionals use health communication to educate, advocate, and address health issues, making it a crucial field in promoting public well-being.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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White Paper/Brief
The 2019 call for papers on “Taboos in Health Communication: Stigma, Silence, and Voice” coincided with the emergence of COVID-19, which drastically transformed the world. This pandemic, with over 235 million cases and nearly 5 million deaths by October 2021, not only had severe health consequences but also led to economic and social crises, including increased domestic violence and mental health issues. It pushed health communication and public relations to the forefront of crisis management, overshadowing other health concerns. This shift highlighted the importance of addressing taboos, stigmas, and silences, particularly in areas like mental and reproductive health, maternal health, and vaccination efforts. The special issue explores how public relations and health communication influence public discourse and societal norms, challenging established assumptions and power dynamics in a COVID-19-dominated world. It acknowledges the historically limited connection between public health and public relations and calls for addressing cultural taboos and stigmas. The issue advocates for applying critical theory in health communication and promoting an interdisciplinary approach to address these challenges, with the ultimate goal of integrating public relations insights into broader socio-cultural, political, and economic discussions in the post-pandemic era.
Emerging Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.
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Video
This 25-minute video from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health offers insights and lessons learned from public health practitioners who leveraged social media to communicate with broad audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. It offers actionable tips on how to identify messages, audiences, and formats. Guidance on style and messaging decisions will help refine quick-hit online messages for the broader public.
Established Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes when implemented in multiple real-life settings, as indicated by previous studies that are consistent with the objectives of the activities.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This JAMA article outlines specific recommendations on how to identify and treat long COVID. Recommendations include: believing the patient, going beyond symptoms, addressing fatigue, and looking to familiar conditions.
Promising Practices that show evidence of effectiveness in improving public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting, as indicated by achievement of aims consistent with the objectives of the activities, and are suitable for adaptation by other communities.
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Toolkit
The Framework for an Equitable COVID-19 Homelessness Response offers guidance on utilizing funding sources like the CARES Act to address homelessness during the pandemic. It aims to conduct emergency measures while planning for recovery. The framework emphasizes racial justice and requires coordination among partners and systems. It is regularly updated and provides tools and resources. For individuals experiencing homelessness, local 2-1-1 hotlines can provide assistance.