scholarly journals The role of risk communication in public health interventions. An analysis of risk communication for a community quarantine in Germany to curb the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0256113
Author(s):  
Juliane Scholz ◽  
Wibke Wetzker ◽  
Annika Licht ◽  
Rainer Heintzmann ◽  
André Scherag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Information Level ◽  
Public Health Authorities

Background Separating ill or possibly infectious people from their healthy community is one of the core principles of non-pharmaceutical interventions. However, there is scarce evidence on how to successfully implement quarantine orders. We investigated a community quarantine for an entire village in Germany (Neustadt am Rennsteig, March 2020) with the aim of better understanding the successful implementation of quarantine measures. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted in Neustadt am Rennsteig six weeks after the end of a 14-day mandatory community quarantine. The sample size consisted of 562 adults (64% of the community), and the response rate was 295 adults, or 52% (33% of the community). Findings National television was reported as the most important channel of information. Contact with local authorities was very limited, and partners or spouses played a more important role in sharing information. Generally, the self-reported information level was judged to be good (211/289 [73.0%]). The majority of participants (212/289 [73.4%]) approved of the quarantine, and the reported compliance was 217/289 (75.1%). A self-reported higher level of concern as well as a higher level of information correlated positively with both a greater acceptance of quarantine and self-reported compliant behaviour. Interpretation The community quarantine presented a rare opportunity to investigate a public health intervention for an entire community. In order to improve the implementation of public health interventions, public health risk communication activities should be intensified to increase both the information level (potentially leading to better compliance with community quarantine) and the communication level (to facilitate rapport and trust between public health authorities and their communities).

scholarly journals Coding Public Health Interventions for Health Technology Assessments: A Pilot Experience With WHO's International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI)

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Wübbeler ◽  
Sebastian Geis ◽  
Jovana Stojanovic ◽  
Lise Elliott ◽  
Iñaki Gutierrez-Ibarluzea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
International Classification ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Technologies ◽  
Prevention Interventions

Introduction: An important requirement for successful public health interventions is a standardized classification in order to make these health technologies comparable in all contexts and recognized by all parties. The WHO International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI), including an integrated public health component, has been developed to propose such an international standard.Methods: To test (a) the translation of public health interventions to ICHI codes and (b) the technical handling and general coding in public health, we used a set of public health interventions from a recent cross-sectional survey among Health Technology Assessment professionals.Results: Our study showed that handling of the ICHI interface is stable, that there is a need for specificity and adequate detail of intervention descriptions and desired outcomes to code adequately with ICHI and that the professional background of the coder, as well as his/her sex might influence the selection of codes.Conclusion: International Classification of Health Interventions provides a good coverage of public health interventions. However, the broader character of system wide interventions, often involving a variety of institutions and stakeholders, may present a challenge to the application of ICHI coding. Based on this experience, we would tailor future surveys more specifically to the needs of the classification and we advise training for health professionals before coding with ICHI. Standards of reporting will likely strengthen insights about the efficiency of primary prevention interventions and thus benefit long-term health of populations and structured HTA reporting process.

Sunburn Frequency and Risk and Protective Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley Braun ◽  
Colin H Adler ◽  
Michael Goodman ◽  
Howa Yeung
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Risk And Protective Factors ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional

BACKGROUND Primary prevention of skin cancer is at the forefront of public health as morbidity and economic burden of this malignancy continue to grow. There are limited data on effective interventions to reduce sunburn frequency and modifiable risk factors. OBJECTIVE To determine an association between (1) demographic characteristics and outdoor sunburn frequency and (2) sunburn frequency and sun-related behaviors. METHODS Of the 23,430 surveys sent out, 4,883 participants reported sunburn-related data in the National Cancer Institute Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 5 Cycle 3, a nationally representative, cross-sectional household survey. Association between frequency of sunburns within the last 12 months and demographic, risk, and protective factors were examined using Rao-Scott chi-square test. When assessing demographic factors, potential confounding was addressed using multivariable analysis. RESULTS In multivariable models, respondents more likely to report any sunburn were younger than 35 (ages 35-64 Odds Ratio (OR) (95% Confidence Interval CI): 0.43 (0.30-0.61); ages 65+ OR (95% CI): 0.12 (0.07-0.16)) and non-Hispanic white ethnicity (Non-Hispanic Black or Other OR (95% CI): 0.19 (0.13-0.30); Hispanic OR (95% CI): 0.48 (0.32-0.72)). Respondents with higher income were more likely to report any sunburn (OR (95% CI): 2.58 (1.78-3.76)), but less likely to sunburn frequently (OR (95% CI): 0.26 (0.12-0.56)). Females were less likely to report frequent sunburns than males (OR (95% CI): 0.56 (0.34-0.94)). Engagement in sporting events (P =.04), outdoor events (P=.04), and day-to-day activities (P<.001) during the most recent sunburn was more commonly reported by those with frequent sunburns as compared with those with infrequent sunburns while no difference was found in protective factors or alcohol use. CONCLUSIONS Public health interventions to prevent sunburns should target specific higher risk demographics during time spent outdoors, sporting events, and other day-to-day activities. Further insight into risk and protective behaviors for those who did not burn for comparison could be useful to further guide public health interventions.

scholarly journals Leveraging Rich Data and Machine Learning to Facilitate Policy Making on Public Health Interventions in Fighting to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Short Article ◽  
The World ◽  
Rich Data

<p>This is a short article, focusing on promoting more study on SEIR modeling by leveraging rich data and machine learning. We believe that this is extremely critical as many regions at the country or state/provincial levels have been struggling with their public health intervention policies on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Some recent published papers on mitigation measures show promising SEIR modeling results, which could shred the light for other policymakers at different community levels. We present our perspective on this research direction. Hopefully, we can stimulate more studies and help the world win this “war” against the invisible enemy “coronavirus” sooner rather than later. </p>

scholarly journals WHO Digital Intelligence Analysis for Tracking Narratives and Information Voids in the COVID-19 Infodemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina D. Purnat ◽  
Paolo Vacca ◽  
Stefano Burzo ◽  
Tim Zecchin ◽  
Amy Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Real Time ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Public Interest ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Intelligence Analysis ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Health Related

The COVID-19 pandemic is the first to unfold in the highly digitalized society of the 21st century and is therefore the first pandemic to benefit from and be threatened by a thriving real-time digital information ecosystem. For this reason, the response to the infodemic required development of a public health social listening taxonomy, a structure that can simplify the chaotic information ecosystem to enable an adaptable monitoring infrastructure that detects signals of fertile ground for misinformation and guides trusted sources of verified information to fill in information voids in a timely manner. A weekly analysis of public online conversations since 23 March 2020 has enabled the quantification of running shifts of public interest in public health-related topics concerning the pandemic and has demonstrated the frequent resumption of information voids relevant for public health interventions and risk communication in an emergency response setting.

scholarly journals Factors Related to Health Risk Communication Outcomes among Migrant Workers in Thailand during COVID-19: A Case Study of Three Provinces

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11474
Author(s):  
Ratchadaporn Papwijitsil ◽  
Hathairat Kosiyaporn ◽  
Pigunkaew Sinam ◽  
Mathudara Phaiyarom ◽  
Sataporn Julchoo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Preventive Practices

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerging infectious disease, and risk communication is one of several public health emergency responses. During the pandemic, many migrant workers in Thailand experienced barriers that hamper access to health information. This study aims to explore factors related to the outcomes of health risk communication, including awareness of public health measures and preventive practices. We conducted a cross-sectional survey on migrants between January and April 2021 using cluster sampling in Phuket, Ranong, and Samut Sakhon. In the descriptive analysis, we presented the median, proportion, and ratio, while in the inferential analysis, we employed a logistic regression with robust standard errors. Although a total of 303 participants were initially included in this study, the final number was narrowed down to 288 samples due to insufficient information required for the analysis. Frequent reception of health information and primary school education showed a statistically significant association with preventive practices. Middle-aged migrant workers demonstrated a significantly lower level of preventive practices than younger migrant workers. A longer stay in Thailand was significantly related to a lower degree of awareness toward public health measures. Thus, it is necessary to promote the accessibility of health information among migrant workers in Thailand, especially those who have lived in Thailand for more than eight years, are older, and have no formal education.

scholarly journals Household Preparedness and Preferred Communication Channels in Public Health Emergencies: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Residents in an Asian Developed Urban City

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greta Tam ◽  
Zhe Huang ◽  
Emily Chan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Disease Surveillance ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Urban City ◽  
Household Preparedness

Disaster awareness and household preparedness are crucial for reducing the negative effects of a disaster. This study aims to examine the citizens’ preparedness level in the event of a general disaster or outbreak of infectious disease and to identify suitable channels for community disease surveillance and risk communication. We used a stratified random design to conduct a digit-dialed telephone survey in Hong Kong during February 2014. Level of disaster preparedness was examined according to the possession of disaster kit items. Associations between socio-demographic factors and good household preparedness were assessed using multiple logistic regression models. Preferences for infectious disease surveillance were collected and analyzed. There were 1020 respondents. Over half of the respondents (59.2%) had good household preparedness. After adjustment, female respondents, having higher education and higher household income were significantly associated with good household preparedness. Television and telephone were the preferred channels to obtain and report infectious disease information, respectively. In conclusion, general and specific infectious-disease household preparedness levels in Hong Kong were generally good. Tailored preparedness programs targeted to specific communities are necessary for those lacking preparedness. Risk communication and public health surveillance should be conducted through television and telephone, respectively.

scholarly journals Adapting Syndromic Surveillance Baselines After Public Health Interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 135 (6) ◽  
pp. 737-745
Author(s):  
Roger Antony Morbey ◽  
Alex James Elliot ◽  
Gillian Elizabeth Smith ◽  
Andre Charlett
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Syndromic Surveillance ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Step Change ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
False Alarms ◽  
Rotavirus Vaccine ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Before And After

Background Public health surveillance requires historical baselines to identify unusual activity. However, these baselines require adjustment after public health interventions. We describe an example of such an adjustment after the introduction of rotavirus vaccine in England in July 2013. Methods We retrospectively measured the magnitude of differences between baselines and observed counts (residuals) before and after the introduction of a public health intervention, the introduction of a rotavirus vaccine in July 2013. We considered gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and vomiting to be indicators for national syndromic surveillance, including telephone calls to a telehealth system, emergency department visits, and unscheduled consultations with general practitioners. The start of the preintervention period varied depending on the availability of surveillance data: June 2005 for telehealth, November 2009 for emergency departments, and July 2010 for general practitioner data. The postintervention period was July 2013 to the second quarter of 2016. We then determined whether baselines incorporating a step-change reduction or a change in seasonality resulted in more accurate models of activity. Results Residuals in the unadjusted baseline models increased by 42%-198% from preintervention to postintervention. Increases in residuals for vomiting indicators were 19%-44% higher than for diarrhea. Both step-change and seasonality adjustments improved the surveillance models; we found the greatest reduction in residuals in seasonally adjusted models (4%-75%). Conclusion Our results demonstrated the importance of adjusting surveillance baselines after public health interventions, particularly accounting for changes in seasonality. Adjusted baselines produced more representative expected values than did unadjusted baselines, resulting in fewer false alarms and a greater likelihood of detecting public health threats.

Plague and trade in Lagos, 1924–1931

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olukayode A. Faleye
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Economic Policy ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Historical Study ◽  
Maritime Trade ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
The Third

The literature on the Third Plague Pandemic in West Africa focuses on urbanisation and disease processes in colonial Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria. Consequently, there is a dearth of historical study of the relational complexities between public health interventions and maritime trade during the outbreak in the region. It is with this in mind that this article examines the historical effects of plague control on internal commerce and international maritime trade in Lagos from 1924 to 1931. The study is based on the historical analysis of colonial administrative, sanitary and medical records as well as newspaper reports. It concludes that the nature of colonial public health intervention was determined by economic policy preferences that impacted distinctively on internal commerce and international maritime trade in Lagos.

scholarly journals Leveraging Rich Data and Machine Learning to Facilitate Policy Making on Public Health Interventions in Fighting to Contain the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Qiu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Machine Learning ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
Research Direction ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Short Article ◽  
The World ◽  
Rich Data

<p>This is a short article, focusing on promoting more study on SEIR modeling by leveraging rich data and machine learning. We believe that this is extremely critical as many regions at the country or state/provincial levels have been struggling with their public health intervention policies on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Some recent published papers on mitigation measures show promising SEIR modeling results, which could shred the light for other policymakers at different community levels. We present our perspective on this research direction. Hopefully, we can stimulate more studies and help the world win this “war” against the invisible enemy “coronavirus” sooner rather than later. </p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document