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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
Researchers conducted a series of interviews with administrators from 40 different nursing homes across the US between July 2020 and December 2021 to better understand their experiences amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviewees described the adverse effects of the pandemic on the physical and mental health of the residents in their facilities as restrictions around visitation, socializing, and communal dining created isolating, inactive conditions. Administrators also expressed concerns for the longevity of the nursing home industry in the wake of the pandemic and resulting reductions in revenue and pervasive negative perceptions of nursing homes in the media.
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
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken significant steps to address the long-term effects of COVID-19, known as “Long COVID.” These actions include establishing advisory committees, forming offices dedicated to Long COVID research and practice, and providing technical guidance for evaluating disabilities related to Long COVID. HHS has also delivered comprehensive reports to the President outlining support services and research strategies. These efforts, in collaboration with various federal agencies, aim to assist individuals in living independently and participating in their communities while dealing with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. Numerous resources, such as guides, civil rights protections, and workplace accommodations, have been made available to support those affected by Long COVID.
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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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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White Paper/Brief
This article discusses the need for a disability data justice framework to support health equity goals. Even though 27% of American adults report having a disability, there exists limited COVID-19 data for the disabled community. Some public health surveys administered during the pandemic did not incorporate questions around disability until 2021. The article presents a series of recommendations on ways to achieve disability data justice. These include making disability a core element of all demographic data collection alongside race, ethnicity, and gender identity, increasing representation of disabled people across health professions, collaborating with members of the disabled community when developing and implementing disability data collection, and making health data accessible to all people with disabilities.
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 study from the American Journal of Managed Care identifies the main factors influencing the implementation and sustainability of cross-sector data sharing between a community-based organization and an academic medical center via a case study of the Mid-Ohio Farmacy (MOF) produce referral program. The MOF is a unique program developed by the Mid-Ohio Food Collective and Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center (OSUWMC) to provide food insecure patients who have a qualifying chronic condition with money to purchase produce from food pantries on a monthly basis. Researchers conducted a series of key informant interviews with OSUWMC and Mid-Ohio Food Collective representatives to characterize the challenges of data sharing between the academic medical center and the community-based organization. Challenges were grouped into three main buckets: data sharing regulations, data exchange capabilities, and cross sector data integration. Some keys findings from this paper include the need for clarification around HIPPA regulations for data exchange between covered and non-covered entities, the importance of incorporating social-risk data (such as a food security screening tool) into the electronic health record, and the need for additional research and guidance around how to create fully integrated shared databases between health care and social service agencies.
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.
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White Paper/Brief
The article highlights the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and their influence on preparations for future public health emergencies. While the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 is set to end in May 2023, the FDA emphasizes the continued importance of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Addressing misinformation and strengthening supply chain resilience are key priorities, and the FDA is developing more efficient inspection planning systems. Modernizing FDA authorities and maintaining a commitment to planning for the future are also emphasized to enhance national security and public health preparedness.
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
Using a grant from the National Science Foundation, Predictive Intelligence for Pandemic Prevention (PIPP) developed tools and systems to respond effectively to infectious disease pandemics. Recommendations from this work include avoiding reinvention of the wheel by centralizing and standardizing approaches to pandemic response planning, collaboration and information sharing among public health stakeholders, investing in high-performance computing and data management systems for public health, creating a national center for pandemic response, developing playbooks for fast-moving threats, and identifying sustainable and scalable solutions.