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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.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This paper analyzes the policy components that contribute to the programmatic success of flu and Tdap pregnancy vaccine programs in three high-income countries, including the United States. Key pillars to increased vaccination coverage include Health Authority accountability, facilitated patient access to vaccination, healthcare professional accountability and engagement, awareness of the burden and severity of diseases, and finally, belief in the benefits of pregnancy vaccination. In the US, given the higher diversity of stakeholders, a multi-stakeholder approach with calls to action from the CDC and endorsement from other scientific societies were key to uptake of vaccinations in pregnancy. It is recommended that maternal task forces reinforce these messages, disseminate toolkits, and that partners address barriers that stand in the way of vaccination, including ensuring that vaccination clinics are convenient for pregnant woman. Successful programs do not require implementation of all components; instead, public health experts should use these as components as guiding tools that can be refined depending on the specificities of the healthcare system in place.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This study examines the challenges of using community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 brings unique challenges to this approach due to social distancing and the closure of key community organizations. They identify three key challenges: flexibility to pivot when needed, inequity in research participation, and the well-being of the research team. The study focuses on impacts for immigrant and communities of color and examines intersectionality’s with age and gender.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
Due to the geographic origins of the first major outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, individuals of Chinese ethnic origin around the world have experienced discrimination, xenophobia, and racism during the pandemic. While reports have highlighted such incidents, this paper argues that when the conversation starts and stops at the reporting of experiences of stigma, the narrative remains as the victimization of the community. Instead, instances of COVID-19 stigma and discrimination are only one aspect of this story, where other aspects include a deeper understanding of the community itself. Highlighting the early actions that the community took to help broader society in dealing with COVID-19 at the start of the pandemic may help reframe anti-Chinese stigma during the pandemic.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
In the United States, mobile health clinics are an important method for delivering high quality care to medically underserved populations. To address declining vaccination coverage among young children in Boston during the pandemic, Mattapan Community Health Center (Mattapan) and Codman Square Health Center (Codman Square) partnered with the Kraft Center for Community Health at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers to deploy a pediatric mobile health clinic as an adjunct to their in-person clinical services.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Summary Report/Recommendations
The article details the use of a peer reviewed, validated tool called the Equity Matrix in assessing inequities in the COVID-19 pandemic. The article identifies sources of inequities, including but not limited to public policy, not sufficiently tailoring interventions towards marginalized groups, and vaccine hesitancy.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
A review of best practices for COVID-19 infection prevention and control in long-term care facilities. These included establishing surveillance measures, revising staffing and visitor policies, and clearly communicating health measures and case numbers. The authors highlight the need for additional support and resources for long-term care facilities to address the pandemic over time. The article also provides updated guidelines for rapid situation analyses.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
The researchers tested the effectiveness of “Go Viral!”, a 5-minute online game designed to improve players’ ability to spot COVID-19-related misinformation, in comparison to a passive “prebunking” intervention (UNESCO infographics) and to a control group. The authors found that “Go Viral!” improves players’ ability to spot misinformation, as well as their confidence in their ability to spot misinformation. This effect remains at least one week after playing the game. While the UNESCO infographics also improved viewers’ ability to spot misinformation and their confidence in their ability to spot misinformation, the effect size for “Go Viral!” was larger, and the players reported being more likely to share “Go Viral!” with their networks on social media compared with the group that viewed the graphics. While the results are promising, there are several limitations. The study did not include an explicit equity focus and the game is not accessible to individuals without internet.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
This article presents the results of a non-randomized cohort study comparing opioid agonist therapy (medication assisted treatment [MAT]) for opioid use disorder received via telemedicine, in-person, or a mix of telemedicine and in-person visits. The study was conducted between January 2011 and June 2012 in Ontario, Canada. The telemedicine group had the highest one-year treatment retention rate, followed by the mixed group, and the in-person group had the lowest one-year treatment retention rate. The results suggest telemedicine could be an effective means of increasing access to MAT for opioid use disorder. It should be noted that the study was conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and replicability will vary based on local resources and MAT regulations.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
This article presents the results of a rapid review of community engagement strategies used in response to three recent epidemics, Ebola, Zika, and H1N1. The review included 32 studies representing 37 initiatives as well as 11 guideline articles, included for reference and context purposes. Facilitators and barriers to implementing equitable community interventions are described, in addition to best practices and a discussion of how prior lessons learned can be implemented for COVID-19.
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.
RELEASE DATE:
Peer Review Study
The intervention outlined in this study took place at a hospital in Italy, and was designed to reduce or prevent provider burnout during the onset of the pandemic. The intervention included having six psychologists always present in the clinical setting to provide on-site as needed services to physicians, nurses, and other hospital staff. A PTSD short scale survey was also conducted to better understand the mental health needs of the providers in the hospital (such as psychosis, sleep problems, mania, suicidal ideation, and more). Providers noting mild to moderate symptoms were offered up to five sessions with a psychologist or psychotherapist.