Evidence-Based Practice for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (2020) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
6 Communicating Public Health Alerts and Guidance with Technical Audiences During a Public Health Emergency
6 Communicating Public Health Alerts and Guidance with Technical Audiences During a Public Health Emergency
Pages 160-179
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 160... ...
; The practice should be accompanied by targeted monitoring and evaluation or conducted in the context of research when feasible so as to improve the evidence base for strategies used to communicate public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences. Finding Statements and Certainty of the Evidence High Moderate Low Very Low Finding Statement Certainty Electronic messaging systems such as email, fax, and text messaging are effective communication channels for increasing technical audiences' awareness of public health alerts and guidance during a public health emergency Electronic messaging systems are effective communication channels for increasing technical audiences' use of current public health guidance during a public health emergency 6 160
|
From page 161... ...
settings. ing to prevent information overload, duplication of effort, and conflicting recommendations ; Reduce message volume when feasible, and highlight new information and any differences from previous or other Population existing guidance Technical audiences ; Develop distribution lists in advance of public health emer- reflected in this gencies, and ensure that contact information is kept up to evidence review were date primarily health care professionals.
|
From page 162... ...
to public health agencies to be a public health surveillance activity and did not include it in the scope of this review. However, the review did encompass communication channels that facilitate the bidirectional exchange of information if public health agencies may use the information shared by technical audiences to inform future guidance and alerts.
|
From page 163... ...
SOURCE: CDC, 2018a. TABLE 6-1 Technical Audiences and Communication Channels Used to Share Public Health Alerts and Guidance Technical Audiences Communication Channels • Health care partners (e.g., hospitals, • Health Alert Network clinics, long-term care facilities, emergency • Electronic health record alert departments, providers, health care coalitions, • Agency-run notification systems, with alert mechanisms health and hospital associations, college that include email, text, phone call, pager, radio, and fax health services, vaccine providers, community • WebEOC, teleconferences, in-person meetings, briefings health centers)
|
From page 164... ...
In the absence of clear and consistent messaging from public health authorities, technical audiences may obtain and use information from the media or other unreliable sources, which may be inaccurate or out of date. A wide variety of communication channels are commonly used to disseminate public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences (Revere et al., 2011)
|
From page 165... ...
OVERVIEW OF THE KEY REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANALYTIC FRAMEWORK Defining the Key Review Questions The overarching question that guided this review addresses the effectiveness of different channels for communicating public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences during a public health emergency. To answer this question, the committee sought evidence on several sub-questions related to documented benefits and harms associated with the channels themselves, as well as the engagement of technical audiences in the development of communication plans and channels.
|
From page 166... ...
» Improved coordination with response partners Population Technical audiences Intermediate Outcome Intermediate Outcome Outcome External facing Improved knowledge and attitudes » Increased reach of alerts and Improved response Improved transparency and trust guidance » Increased appropriate » Increased reporting and feed- use of public health back from target audiences guidance » Increased perceived credibility » Economic impacts of shared public health infor Potential Effect Modifiers mation » Improved audience awareness » Knowledge and use of risk communication principles and understanding of up-to date public health information » Different types of technical audiences » Frequency, timeliness, and content of alerts/messaging Outcome » Designated point-of-contact/liaison Reduced morbidity » Coordinate and exercise plans with response partners and mortality Potential Harms Alert fatigue or overwhelmed feelings leading to ignored/ missed information FIGURE 6-1 Analytic framework for communicating public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences during a public health emergency. NOTES: Arrows in the framework indicate hypothesized causal pathways between interventions and outcomes.
|
From page 167... ...
Consistent with the methods described in Chapter 3, in making its final judgment on the evidence of effectiveness for electronic messaging channels for communicating public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences during a public health emergency, the committee considered other types of evidence that could inform a determination of what works for whom and in which contexts, ultimately reaching consensus on the certainty of the evidence (COE) for each outcome.
|
From page 168... ...
There is moderate COE supported by two quantitative studies that such electronic messaging systems as email, fax, and text messaging are effective communication channels for increasing technical audiences' awareness of public health alerts and guidance during a public health emergency. However, these effects may be dampened by alert fatigue associated with excessive message volume.
|
From page 169... ...
While it is clear that channels other than electronic messaging systems are being used in practice to communicate public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences, the effectiveness of these channels has not yet been rigorously studied in the PHEPR context. Balance of Benefits and Harms Although only two quantitative comparative research studies evaluate the effectiveness or benefits of specific channels for communicating public health alerts and guidance, case reports and AARs also cite improved audience awareness and the timeliness of messaging as benefits for some communication channels, such as electronic messaging systems (e.g., fax, email, web-based alerting and surveillance systems)
|
From page 170... ...
Equity Equity issues associated with different channels for communicating public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences are rarely raised in research studies and evaluations (e.g., AARs) , and represent an important evaluation gap.
|
From page 171... ...
Engaging technical audiences in the development of communication plans and channels also appears to help in the dissemination of public health guidance and may improve the usefulness of such guidance through advance consideration of how the guidance will be translated into actionable knowledge. Conversely, insufficient engagement of partners in planning processes may impede effective communication during emergency responses as a result of planning gaps and unclear communication channels and vetting processes, potentially raising questions about the credibility of public health information.
|
From page 172... ...
Multipronged approaches featuring simultaneous or sequential use of multiple communication channels are commonly reported and may facilitate effective communication when TABLE 6-3 Considerations for Selection of Communication Channels Face to Face Direct contact through in-person meetings is synchronous (i.e., allows real-time exchange of information) , which allows for degrees of nuance and flexibility related to the uptake and understanding of public health guidance.
|
From page 173... ...
Refer to Section 9, "Considerations for Selection of Communication Channels," in Appendix B3 for additional detail.) Facilitating Communication with Technical Audiences During a Public Health Emergency A recurring theme within and across different evidence sources is the challenge posed by the dynamic information environment characteristic of response scenarios.
|
From page 174... ...
PRACTICE RECOMMENDATION, JUSTIFICATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE Practice Recommendation Inclusion of electronic messaging channels (e.g., email) is recommended as part of state, local, tribal, and territorial public health agencies' multipronged approach for communicating public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences in preparation for and in response to public health emergencies.
|
From page 175... ...
The committee identified only two quantitative studies that evaluated the effectiveness of channels for communicating public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences: one did not evaluate communication channels during a real public health emergency (Baseman et al., 2016) , and the other had serious methodological limitations (van Woerden et al., 2007)
|
From page 176... ...
The committee found qualitative studies useful for exploring the social factors, including those that create barriers and facilitators, involved in communicating public health alerts and guidance with technical audiences. However, only eight qualitative research studies met the committee's inclusion criteria, and of those, only three were directly relevant.
|
From page 177... ...
. Moreover, no studies examine communication channels (simulated or real)
|
From page 178... ...
2018. Communicating risk in public health emergencies: A WHO guideline for emergency risk communication (ERC)
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.