Clarification of the Concept of Risk Communication and its Role in Public Health Crisis Management in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 834-836
Author(s):  
Wuqi Qiu ◽  
Cordia Chu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Research Field ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Crisis Events ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
New Research

ABSTRACTRisk communication plays a very important role in the prevention of public health crisis events and has been considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be 1 of the main functions of an emergency public health crisis. However, it is a relatively new research field in China, so many people have mistaken understandings of risk communication. This article will describe the concept and importance of risk communication and briefly introduce the role of risk communication in public health crisis management. It also provides information for the prevention of public health crisis events in the future.

Use of Nanoparticles to Combat COVID-19

2022 ◽  
pp. 412-440
Author(s):  
Ashish Kumar ◽  
Abhinay Thakur
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Respiratory Distress Syndrome ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Severe Form ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the unexpected coronavirus pneumonia pandemic a public health crisis of global significance. COVID-19 in its most severe form can cause coagulation issues and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Due to viral modifications and the advent of new viral strains, the efficiency of traditional treatments for viral infections is rapidly fading. To overcome the limitations and to improve anti-viral treatments, integrated scientific research toward nanotechnology treatment investigations are anticipated for probable use in the prevention and/or treatment of viral infections. This chapter focuses on nano-based diagnostics, accompanied by a study of nano-based therapeutics and treatments that have been shown to be effective against viruses that are closely related to SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, the authors anticipate that nanotechnology-based approaches mentioned throughout this chapter will aid researchers in developing new COVID-19 prevention, diagnosis, and treatment methods.

Science Denial in Crisis

2021 ◽  
pp. 277-302
Author(s):  
Sara E. Gorman ◽  
Jack M. Gorman
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

In 2019, a historic pandemic erupted due to a disease we would later know as COVID-19. Millions of people around the world quarantined in their homes as healthcare systems became quickly overwhelmed and death tolls rose. At the same time, the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed that we were facing another simultaneous crisis: a crisis of misinformation, which the WHO called an “infodemic.” Unfortunately, this dual crisis was not specific to the coronavirus pandemic but is something that can be seen across history in other epidemics. This chapter explores the question of what happens to our now familiar notion of science denial during a crisis, arguing that many of the same principles that we discuss throughout this book are at play in a more heightened manner. We will end by proposing some possible solutions to the misinformation crisis that so often coincides with times of public health crisis.

scholarly journals Four pandemics: lessons learned, lessons lost

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
World Health ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The World ◽  
Spanish Flu ◽  
Future Events ◽  
Health Organization

In the past 100 years, the world has faced four distinctly different pandemics: the Spanish flu of 1918-1919, the SARS pandemic of 2003, the H1N1 or “swine flu” pandemic of 2012, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Each public health crisis exposed specific systemic shortfalls and provided public health lessons for future events. The Spanish flu revealed a nursing shortage and led to a great appreciation of nursing as a profession. SARS showed the importance of having frontline clinicians be able to work with regulators and those producing guidelines. H1N1 raised questions about the nature of a global organization such as the World Health Organization in terms of the benefits and potential disadvantages of leading the fight against a long-term global public health threat. In the era of COVID-19, it seems apparent that we are learning about both the blessing and curse of social media.

scholarly journals What Caused the Outbreak of COVID-19 in China: From the Perspective of Crisis Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziheng Shangguan ◽  
Mark Yaolin Wang ◽  
Wen Sun
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Management System ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Health Management ◽  
Information Management System ◽  
Government Control ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Public Health Crisis

Since the first known case of a COVID-19 infected patient in Wuhan, China on 8 December 2019, COVID-19 has spread to more than 200 countries, causing a worldwide public health crisis. The existing literature fails to examine what caused this sudden outbreak from a crisis management perspective. This article attempts to fill this research gap through analysis of big data, officially released information and other social media sources to understand the root cause of the crisis as it relates to China’s current management system and public health policy. The article draws the following conclusions: firstly, strict government control over information was the main reason for the early silencing of media announcements, which directly caused most people to be unprepared and unaware of COVID-19. Secondly, a choice between addressing a virus with an unknown magnitude and nature, and mitigating known public panic during a politically and culturally sensitive time, lead to falsehood and concealment. Thirdly, the weak autonomous management power of local public health management departments is not conducive for providing a timely response to the crisis. Finally, the privatization of many state-owned hospitals led to the unavailability of public health medical resources to serve affected patients in the Wuhan and Hubei Province. This article suggests that China should adopt a Singaporean-style public health crisis information management system to ensure information disclosure and information symmetry and should use it to monitor public health crises in real time. In addition, the central government should adopt the territorial administration model of a public health crisis and increase investment in public health in China.

scholarly journals Consideration of the Psychological and Mental Health of the Elderly during COVID-19: A Theoretical Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 8098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunho Lee ◽  
Goo-Churl Jeong ◽  
JongEun Yim
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Induced Stress ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

COVID-19 has spread worldwide causing an unprecedented public health crisis. After the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020, the number of confirmed cases and deaths has continued to increase. This situation may be prolonged until an effective, tested, and safe treatment is available. COVID-19 can occur at any age. However, the maximum confirmed cases and deaths have occurred among the elderly. Particularly, the mental and physical health of the elderly aged above 60 and classified as high-risk groups is more vulnerable than other age groups, requiring more attention. Strong social restraint, social distancing, and quarantine measures to prevent the COVID-19 spread have raised concerns about their mental health. Therefore, it is crucial to analyze and identify the psychological concepts and protective factors that support and constitute these guidelines and strategies and prepare practical suggestions and guidelines to protect the mental health of the elderly during COVID-19. These discussions will facilitate a deeper understanding and expansion of these guidelines and strategies. Therefore, this study explores factors—including pandemic-induced stress, self-integration, self-efficacy, and resilience—in order to prepare practical and detailed suggestions and guidelines using studies that considered these factors, including coping with COVID-19-induced stress, social support, and physical activity.

scholarly journals COVID-19 and the rise of social activism in Southeast Asia: a public health concern

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Clyde G Corpuz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Social Activism ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract The current public health crisis has radically altered the social and civic involvement in Southeast Asia. Although the virus has shifted the landscape of engagement, it has not dampened the enthusiasm of the public. In 2020–2021, more people than ever seem to be paying attention and even getting involved in activism. Many dramatic events happened during the coronavirus crisis such as from protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, public activism around the environment, economic inequality, authoritarianism and human rights violations. In Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and just recently Myanmar. The journal has lately published about the ‘Relationship of George Floyd protests to increases in COVID-19 cases using event study methodology’ and it has rightly expressed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-recommended social distancing guidelines must be followed in a protest situation. In response to the situation of social activism in Southeast Asia, one must follow the CDC-recommended and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in the Region. Although protesting is an individual human right, one must also be cautious and be aware of the deadly virus since we are still in a pandemic and the COVID-19 virus continues to mutate.

scholarly journals China's Public Health Policies in Response to COVID-19: From an “Authoritarian” Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinghua Gao ◽  
Pengfei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Political Legitimacy ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
Authoritarian State ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Wide Range

Background: China is generally regarded internationally as an “authoritarian” state. Traditional definitions have assigned many negative connotations surrounding the term of authoritarian. We realize that it might not be considered value-neutral in other countries. But authoritarian in the Chinese context emphasizes more on centralized decision making, collectivism, coordinating all activities of the nation, and public support, which is considered a value-neutral term. Therefore, it is adopted in this paper. We would like to clarify this. Authoritarian governance is considered an important mechanism for developing China's economy and solving social problems. The COVID-19 crisis is no exception. Most of the current research on crisis management and government crises focuses on advanced, democratic countries. However, the consequences of crisis management by authoritarian governments have not been fully appreciated. Although prior research has addressed authoritarian initiatives to manage crises in China, authoritarian interventions have rarely been theorized in public health emergencies.Methods: Based on a literature review and theoretical analysis, we use a descriptive and qualitative approach to assess public health policies and mechanisms from an authoritarian perspective in China. In light of the key events and intervention measures of China's government in response to COVID-19, the strategic practices of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to construct, embody, or set political goals through authoritarian intervention in public health crisis management are discussed.Results: China's government responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with a comprehensive authoritarian intervention, notably by establishing a top-down leadership mechanism, implementing a resolute lockdown, rapidly establishing square cabin hospitals, enhancing cooperation between different government departments, mobilizing a wide range of volunteer resources, enforcing the use of health codes, imposing mandatory quarantine on those returning from abroad, and implementing city-wide nucleic acid testing. These measures ensured that China was able to contain the outbreak quickly and reflect on the unique role of the Chinese authoritarian system in responding to public health crises.Conclusions: Our paper contributes to expanding the existing understanding of the relationship between crisis management and authoritarian system. China's response to COVID-19 exemplifies the unique strengths of authoritarian institutions in public health crisis management, which is a helpful and practical tool to further enhance the CPC's political legitimacy. As a socialist model of crisis management with Chinese characteristics, it may offer desirable experiences and lessons for other countries still ravaged by the epidemic.

The Impact of COVID-19 on the Socio-economic Indicators of the Selected Asian Countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 097492842110681
Author(s):  
Vaijanath Babshetti ◽  
Jyothi E. Singh ◽  
Prakash B. Yaragol
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World Health ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Macroeconomic Factors ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Human Cost ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The virus has spread across the globe over the last 20 months. In the interest of public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a public health emergency to harmonise international responses to the virus. In a strongly interconnected world, the effect of the pandemic goes beyond mortality and morbidity. The unprecedented outbreak of COVID-19 has also resulted in a global economic crisis. Almost every sector of the economy has been gravely affected by the pandemic to various degrees. In an attempt to curb the spread of the virus many countries have initiated measures such as lockdowns, travel restrictions, ban on public and private transportation, closure of schools and colleges and restrictions on public and social gatherings. These initiatives have led to the decline in GDP, foreign trade and foreign exchange reserves, the rise of unemployment, the crash of stock markets and the depreciation of national currencies among other things. This study assesses the impact of COVID-19 on selected macroeconomic parameters of various Asian countries to present insights on the economic and health crisis caused due to COVID-19. The study analyses the effect of the pandemic on the macroeconomic factors listed above as well as the human cost of the pandemic during the last 20 months. The research finds that the outbreak adversely affected the economy and lives of people in India when compared to selected Asian nations.

scholarly journals Learning From the Past: Distributed Cognition and Crisis Management Capabilities for Tackling COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 729-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seulki Lee ◽  
Jungwon Yeo ◽  
Chongmin Na
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Crisis Management ◽  
Distributed Cognition ◽  
The South ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Learning Path ◽  
Core Capabilities ◽  
Management Capabilities

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented an unprecedented public health crisis across the globe. Governments have developed different approaches to tackle the complex and intractable challenge, showing variations in their effectiveness and results. South Korea has achieved exceptional performance thus far: It has flattened the curve of new infections and brought the outbreak under control without imposing forceful measures such as lockdowns and travel ban. This commentary addresses the South Korean government’s response to COVID-19 and highlights distributed cognition and crisis management capabilities as critical factors. The authors discuss how the South Korean government has cultivated distributed cognition and three core capabilities—reflective-improvement, collaborative, and data-analytical capabilities—after its painful experience with 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV). South Korea’s adaptive approaches and its learning path examined in this commentary provide practical implications for managing potential additional waves of COVID-19 and a future public health crisis.

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