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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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Summary Report/Recommendations
This document provides guidance on conducting after-action reviews (AARs) of the public health response to COVID-19. It offers a methodological approach that combines interactive workshops and interviews and includes practical implementation tools. The document builds upon previous ECDC guidance and aims to support countries in designing AARs for the response to COVID-19. AARs help review actions taken during a public health event, identify best practices and areas for improvement, and contribute to continuous quality improvement in emergency preparedness and response planning. The guidance is adaptable for national and sub-national contexts and targets public health experts from EU/EEA Member States, EU candidate and potential candidate countries, and European Neighbourhood Policy countries.
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 study conducted interviews with public health professionals from local and state health departments to understand their experiences in providing comprehensive COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing with refugee, immigrant, and migrant communities. The research identified six themes related to promising practices, including understanding the community and public health context, cultivating relationships, ensuring linguistic and cultural concordance, communicating intentionally, evolving response strategies, and implementing equity measures. These findings aim to inform proactive, community-engaged solutions for public health organizations working with these communities during public health crises, such as COVID-19, to improve collaborations and staff wellbeing.
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 qualitative study conducted in urban areas of northern and southern China examined how digital detection surveillance for infectious diseases was perceived and experienced by primary care physicians and patients; the findings discuss important ethical considerations for ensuring patient autonomy and rights when digital detection surveillance is used.
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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Summary Report/Recommendations
This article describes structural barriers contributing to inequitable health outcomes for people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic, and provides policy recommendations (based on Canadian examples) to address structural barriers that exacerbated the effects of the pandemic on people living with dementia.
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.
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:
Summary Report/Recommendations
This guidance was developed by the World Health Organization and outlines various public health measures that can be implemented to reduce the spread and impact of COVID-19. Some of the measures outlined include personal protective practices, physical distancing in various situations, and special protective measures for at-risk populations. Policies at the community level are also identified to protect access to food and water, protect the economy, and maintain essential health services functioning.
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.
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.