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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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This episode from the podcast 99 Percent Invisible reflects on how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the American public to a long-standing problem: the disjointed nature of the U.S. health system. Because state and local health departments largely operate independently and use their own data collection and analysis tools, health systems across the country lack standardized data definitions and systems. These inconsistencies made it nearly impossible to collect and analyze comprehensive, standardized data on COVID-19 cases, deaths, and vaccines administered amid the pandemic. Health experts featured on this episode believe that the pandemic made the need for an overhaul of America’s informatics system very apparent. When rebuilding this system, it’s important to focus on remedying existing inequalities in data collection and classification that in some cases render the health status of certain populations – think Native American communities and other communities of color – completely invisible in the data. By virtue of being small populations, it can be difficult for health departments to collect sufficient and/or statistically significant data on minority communities. Another issue discussed in this episode is the use of broad racial categories like “other,” “multiple races,” or even “Asian American,” which, if not disaggregated, obscures the health status of diverse populations who are grouped under the same category. Without comprehensive and inclusive health data, it’s difficult to identify disparities and implement policies and programming that promote social mobility and health equity.
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
Using available COVID-19 case and vaccination data, the CDC compared three different methodologies for grouping race/ethnicity COVID-19 data. Two of these methodologies are focused on how to group race/ethnicity when fields are missing. The results show that methods that use race information when ethnicity is missing resulted in higher estimated COVID-19 cases, incidence, and vaccination coverage. However, more work must be done to improve upon these methods in order to create more equitable and reliable 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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Summary Report/Recommendations
This review summarizes approaches taken to address vaccine hesitancy and lags in COVID-19 vaccination within Black communities. The main areas of focus for this review are communication, addressing structural inequalities in healthcare, and addressing barriers to vaccine convenience.
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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Summary Report/Recommendations
This study uses data from the COVID Tracking Project’s Racial Data Tracker, which aggregates state-level COVID-19 reporting and tracking databases to determine racial/ethnic trends of COVID-19 incidence and evaluate the racial/ethnic distribution of COVID-19 related mortality in the US. Results found that disparities are more apparent at the county and city level, and discusses the importance of transparent, local data in order to allow for greater precision in resource allocation and effective policy changes aimed at reducing disparities. The study includes choropleth maps of the results by state.
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 report details the immense toll the COVID-19 pandemic has taken, and continues to take, on Black communities. The report’s authors – physicians and public health and policy experts – note massive disparities experienced by Black Americans. The worse outcomes, are a predictable result of structural and social realities. The predicates that caused these disparities have long been present. These are cycles we have to break. The report highlights areas for immediate focus and attention, and presents a set of expert-generated recommendations for action.
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
Report describing Anti-Asian racism during COVID-19 in California. This research report presents the results of interviews conducted with 20 individuals from Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in California. These interviews discussed perceived causes of anti-Asian racism, the impact on the community, and suggested or existing mitigating strategies. These interviews highlighted the connection to the COVID-19 pandemic and the underlying and systemic causes of racism. Mitigating strategies included education about the AAPI community, improved reporting systems, and promoting policy changes to address root causes of racism.
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
This report from RAND Corporation presents the results of a nationally-representative survey of Black Americans, coupled with follow-up data collected through interviews with survey participants who expressed vaccine hesitancy. The report identifies factors contributing to mistrust and provides recommendations to improve health messaging and communication to address vaccine hesitancy in Black communities. The practice strategy this resource is focused on is reducing vaccine hesitancy.
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 commentary describes racial disparities in access to medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) and how pandemic-related changes in access to MAT may exacerbate these disparities. The author also provides specific recommendations, including actions that can be taken by local health departments to reduce race-based inequities in access to MAT during the pandemic.
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 commentary article summarizes community-academic partnerships and how they can be used to address vaccine hesitancy among Black and Hispanic/Latinx communities. The authors conclude that pro-vaccine interventions need to: (1) be empathetic to the fears of participants, (2) make a personal connection (e.g., appropriate self-disclosure), (3) deliver accurate information in a non-confrontational manner, and (4) avoid belaboring historical maltreatment and unsupported conspiracies. Moreover, healthcare institutions need to collaborate with community stakeholders to increase access to vulnerable populations and rebuild trust prior to offering interventions.
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 review summarizes vaccination rates, vaccine hesitancy, and predictors for vaccination among Hispanic and African-Americans across 13 studies. The article concludes with recommendations to address vaccine hesitancy in these populations.