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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.
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:
Evaluation Report
This resource presents closing down portions of major streets to give people more space to walk or cycle safely during the COVID-19 pandemic as a health promotion strategy. Evaluators found that Toronto residents supported and utilized the closures, helping them become more active and introducing more diverse populations to cycling. There was high support for continued road closures even after the pandemic, with very few issues surrounding the closures.
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.
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Summary Report/Recommendations
This article focuses on post-pandemic treatment for individuals with substance use disorder. Specifically, this article identifies seven pillars to improve treatment for individuals with substance use disorders in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) telemedicine and digital solutions, (2) hospitalization at home, (3) consultation-liaison psychiatric and addiction services, (4) harm-reduction facilities, (5) person-centered care, (6) promote paid work to improve quality of life in people with substance use disorders, and (7) integrated addiction care. The three “best buys” of the World Health Organization (reduce availability, increase prices, and a ban on advertising) are still valid. Additionally, new strategies must be implemented to systematically deal with (a) fake news concerning legal and illegal drugs and (b) controversial scientific information.
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 is a rapid review of peer-reviewed and grey literature summarizing guidance for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in custodial settings in the first six months of 2020. The review summarizes global recommendations across 19 domains including: preparedness; physical environments; case identification, screening, and management; communication; external access and visitation; psychological and emotional support; recreation, legal, and health service adaptation; decarceration; release and community reintegration; workforce logistics; surveillance and information sharing; independent monitoring; compensatory measures; lifting control measures; evaluation; and key populations/ settings. The authors also identify a few conflicting recommendations.
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:
Systematic Review/Meta-Analysis
This article was a literature review and meta-analysis on the evidence for prevention strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19 and other coronaviruses, such as the ones that cause SARS and MERS. The review included data from 172 studies in 16 countries to identify evidence-based preventive strategies. The study emphasizes the importance of using face masks, eye protection, physical distancing, and contact tracing.