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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.
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.
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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White Paper/Brief
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is encouraging higher vaccination rates at nursing homes. Vaccinations are required to be offered at nursing homes, yet the overall vaccination rate is below 50%. The article provides recommendations for ways nursing homes can increase vaccinations by education, communication with residents and their families, and creating action plans for individual residents. It stresses the importance of keeping treatment medications at nursing facilities.
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, White Paper/Brief
Community fridges were popularized in the US during the Covid-19 pandemic: community fridge database Freedge showed 12 US fridges in March 2020, and 160 by February 2021. These fridges are open 24/7 and anyone can access them, freely taking or leaving fresh food. Fridges are tailored to the needs of the neighborhood, and operate either more informally among community members, or with 501(c)(3) status and donation partnerships with local grocery stores or organizations. The fridges have been anecdotally successful in increasing food access while complying with Covid safety protocols.
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:
White Paper/Brief
The article describes hyper-local vaccine approaches to address COVID-19 vaccine disparities. The Equity-First Vaccine initiative is funded by The Rockefeller Foundation and provides support to 5 anchor sites across the U.S. to support community based organizations in implementing hyper-local vaccine approaches. These approaches are designed to reach communities facing vaccine disparities, through 5 key strategies: information, physical accessibility, trustworthiness, technology, and cost. A discussion of needs to increase sustainability is also included in the article, and covers topics like policy leadership, funding, technical assistance, and access to data.
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 includes the key themes and recommendations from a panel discussion of public health practitioners and researchers on the role of complementary and integrative health (CHI) providers, including chiropractors and naturopathic doctors. Throughout the pandemic, public health and medical practitioners have been overwhelmed, whereas CHI providers experienced reductions in their clinical practices. This article examines the barriers to involving CHI practitioners in COVID-19 response and provides recommendations and solutions for removing these barriers.
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
This article focuses on promoting healthy behavior changes among youth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Factors that influence risk taking, such as a focus on the immediate context and social norms, are described and followed by strategies that can promote behavior changes. Barriers and facilitators to specific factors are also discussed with emphasis on creating tailored approaches based on the specific factors affecting the individual youth.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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White Paper/Brief
This report is part of a collaboration between Phreesia, a health care technology firm, the Commonwealth Fund, and Harvard University researchers. The authors of the report interviewed primary care providers at practices that use Phreesia technology and have taken part in vaccination campaigns about the barriers and challenges they encountered to participating in these campaigns. The article offers take-aways for policymakers and other providers on how to reduce barriers to vaccination in primary care, which will be critical to promoting COVID-19 vaccine uptake in future years. The practice strategy this article is focused on is promoting vaccine access and uptake.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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White Paper/Brief
This health policy brief focused on federal and state policies created as a response to COVID-19 that also work to diminish health disparities and inequities. Interventions targeted social needs in the pandemic, identifying populations in need, and utilizing funding.
Novel Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and are in the process of generating evidence of effectiveness or may not yet be tested.
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White Paper/Brief
This white paper provides a framework to engage and build trust among communities of color and tribal communities to help achieve equitable distribution of and access to the COVID-19 vaccine. The framework proposes a series of steps to guide community involvement in the design and leadership of strategies to share information, increase vaccine confidence and receptivity, deliver and administer vaccines, and closely monitor and report on results.