INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN STATES

1921 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 151-152
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Departments

scholarly journals A Panel Evaluation of the Changes in the General Public’s Social-Media-Following of United States’ Public Health Departments during COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272199545
Author(s):  
Areej Khokhar ◽  
Aaron Spaulding ◽  
Zuhair Niazi ◽  
Sikander Ailawadhi ◽  
Rami Manochakian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
State Level ◽  
The State ◽  
Public Health Department ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
The Social ◽  
The U.S

Importance: Social media is widely used by various segments of society. Its role as a tool of communication by the Public Health Departments in the U.S. remains unknown. Objective: To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on social media following of the Public Health Departments of the 50 States of the U.S. Design, Setting, and Participants: Data were collected by visiting the Public Health Department web page for each social media platform. State-level demographics were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention was utilized to collect information regarding the Governance of each State’s Public Health Department. Health rankings were collected from “America’s Health Rankings” 2019 Annual report from the United Health Foundation. The U.S. News and World Report Education Rankings were utilized to provide information regarding the public education of each State. Exposure: Data were pulled on 3 separate dates: first on March 5th (baseline and pre-national emergency declaration (NED) for COVID-19), March 18th (week following NED), and March 25th (2 weeks after NED). In addition, a variable identifying the total change across platforms was also created. All data were collected at the State level. Main Outcome: Overall, the social media following of the state Public Health Departments was very low. There was a significant increase in the public interest in following the Public Health Departments during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: With the declaration of National Emergency, there was a 150% increase in overall public following of the State Public Health Departments in the U.S. The increase was most noted in the Midwest and South regions of the U.S. The overall following in the pandemic “hotspots,” such as New York, California, and Florida, was significantly lower. Interesting correlations were noted between various demographic variables, health, and education ranking of the States and the social media following of their Health Departments. Conclusion and Relevance: Social media following of Public Health Departments across all States of the U.S. was very low. Though, the social media following significantly increased during the early course of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it still remains low. Significant opportunity exists for Public Health Departments to improve social media use to engage the public better.

scholarly journals Notes From the Field: Use of Emergency Medical Service Data to Augment COVID-19 Public Health Surveillance in Montgomery County, Maryland, From March to June 2020

10.2196/22331 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. e22331 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R Sayers ◽  
Scott T Hulse ◽  
Bryant J Webber ◽  
Timothy A Burns ◽  
Anne L Denicoff
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Medical Service ◽  
Medical Service ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Montgomery County ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Service Data

Epidemiologic and syndromic surveillance metrics traditionally used by public health departments can be enhanced to better predict hospitalization for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In Montgomery County, Maryland, measurements of oxygen saturation (SpO2) by pulse oximetry obtained by the emergency medical service (EMS) were added to these traditional metrics to enhance the public health picture for decision makers. During a 78-day period, the rolling 7-day average of the percentage of EMS patients with SpO2 <94% had a stronger correlation with next-day hospital bed occupancy (Spearman ρ=0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.71) than either the rolling 7-day average of the percentage of positive tests (ρ=0.55, 95% CI: 0.37-0.69) or the rolling 7-day average of the percentage of emergency department visits for COVID-19–like illness (ρ=0.49, 95% CI: 0.30-0.64). Health departments should consider adding EMS data to augment COVID-19 surveillance and thus improve resource allocation.

scholarly journals Notes From the Field: Use of Emergency Medical Service Data to Augment COVID-19 Public Health Surveillance in Montgomery County, Maryland, From March to June 2020 (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R Sayers ◽  
Scott T Hulse ◽  
Bryant J Webber ◽  
Timothy A Burns ◽  
Anne L Denicoff
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Emergency Medical Service ◽  
Medical Service ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Montgomery County ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Service Data

UNSTRUCTURED Epidemiologic and syndromic surveillance metrics traditionally used by public health departments can be enhanced to better predict hospitalization for coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In Montgomery County, Maryland, measurements of oxygen saturation (SpO<sub>2</sub>) by pulse oximetry obtained by the emergency medical service (EMS) were added to these traditional metrics to enhance the public health picture for decision makers. During a 78-day period, the rolling 7-day average of the percentage of EMS patients with SpO<sub>2</sub> &lt;94% had a stronger correlation with next-day hospital bed occupancy (Spearman ρ=0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.71) than either the rolling 7-day average of the percentage of positive tests (ρ=0.55, 95% CI: 0.37-0.69) or the rolling 7-day average of the percentage of emergency department visits for COVID-19–like illness (ρ=0.49, 95% CI: 0.30-0.64). Health departments should consider adding EMS data to augment COVID-19 surveillance and thus improve resource allocation.

scholarly journals Exploring Missouri's New, Innovative, and Multilayered Health Data Suppression Rules

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Whitney B. Coffey
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Data ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Registered User ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Query System ◽  
Local Public Health Departments

ObjectiveBy the end of this session, users will be able to describe the innovative and multilayered suppression rules that are applied to Missouri's homegrown health data web query system. They will also be able to use the lessons learned and user feedback described in the session to facilitate discussions surrounding the application of suppression to their specific data systems.IntroductionIn Spring 2017, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MODHSS) launched the Missouri Public Health Information Management System (MOPHIMS) web-based health data platform. Missouri has supported a similar data system since the 1990s, allowing the public, local public health departments, and other stakeholders access to community level birth, death, and hospitalization data (among other datasets). The MOPHIMS system is composed of two separate pieces. Community Data Profiles are topic-, disease-, or demographic-specific reports that contain 15-10 indicators relevant to the report. Because these static reports are developed in-house a multilayered suppression rule is not required. The second piece of MOPHIMS, the Data MICAs, or Missouri Information for Community Assessent, can be used to create customized datasets that slice and dice up to a dozen demographic and system-specific variables to answer complex research questions.The MOPHIMS interface features, among other things, a new and innovative method for addressing confidentiality concerns through the suppression of health data. This pioneering approach integrates multi-level logic that uses inner and outer cell analytics, the use of exempt and conditionally exempt variables, and multiple levels of user access. Moving beyond a simple model of suppressing any values below a certain threshold, MOPHIMS takes a bold step in providing users exceptionally granular data while still protecting citizen privacy.MethodsIn order to implement this new suppression methodology, MODHSS worked with both internal information technology resources (OA-ITSD) and outside contractors to develop the suppression rules utilized in the Data MICAs. Before these meetings began, MODHSS analysts met weekly to determine the overall goals and frames for the rule, knowing that writing the code to implement the complicated and comprehensive vision would be a collaborative and iterative process. Because the MOPHIMS system is homegrown and this specific confidentiality process is not currently utilized (to our knowledge) elsewhere, all of those at the discussion table were required to be innovative, open to criticism, and willing to engage in extremely detailed explanations. A team of users from Missouri’s local public health departments provided feedback throughout this process.A basic description of the process flow that occurs before suppression is applied in MOPHIMS follows. To begin, de-identified record-level data are loaded into online analytical processing (OLAP) cubes and relational databases. No suppression is applied to these back end databases. The information is then aggregated for display on the front end screens of the Data MICAs based on customized user selections. Depending upon which level of access a user has logged in, suppression is then applied to the data output generated using these customized selections. Not only are the rules applied to data tables but also to the MOPHIMS data visualization tools, which include multiple types of charts and maps.ResultsIn addition to the rules themselves, MOPHIMS contains a mechanism that allows users to log in at different levels of access. Public and Registered user levels are free and available to all operators with a valid e-mail address. Partner level access is reserved for epidemiologists at the state and local level who are using the Data MICAs for program planning, evaluation, and grant writing. Because these individuals are required to adhere to the same data dissemination policies as those who create the MOPHIMS system, Partner level access turns off suppression in the MOPHIMS system. Values that would be suppressed at the Public or Registered user levels are shown in italicized, red font. A multi-level approval process is required for individuals to obtain Partner level access to MOPHIMS.ConclusionsMODHSS created an innovative suppression system that allows public health planners to access granular data through customizable queries without risking a confidentiality breach. Users have indicated this is highly preferable to a blanket suppression rule that hides any value under a certain threshold. Additionally, approved MOPHIMS users can view specially formatted values that would otherwise have been suppressed. The flexibility associated with creating a homegrown web query system has allowed the formation and implementation of this multilayered rule, which likely would not have been possible if using an off-the-shelf product. Data disseminators are encouraged to review current confidentiality and suppression rules to determine whether they might be modified to provide more granular data users while still protecting the privacy of citizens. 

An analysis of state health department COVID-19 information for the public (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nandita S. Mani ◽  
Terri Ottosen ◽  
Megan Fratta ◽  
Fei Yu
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Material Type ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Clear Communication

BACKGROUND In response to the current COVID-19 crisis, public health departments across the U.S. have created, distributed, and shared COVID-19 health information. The extent to which information is understandable and actionable can be examined by use of validated health literacy and readability tools. Health information must be actionable, simple, and straightforward, particularly for health messages in times of urgency or during a health crisis. OBJECTIVE This study aimed (1) to use three validated health literacy tools to assess the understandability, actionability, clarity, and readability of COVID-19 health information created for the public by U.S. state public health departments; (2) to examine the correlations between understandability, actionability, clarity, readability, and material types; (3) to propose potential strategies to improve public health messaging. METHODS Based on CDC statistics on June 30, 2020, we identified the top 10 U.S. states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases. We visited the 10 state public health department websites and selected materials related to COVID-19 prevention according to a pre-defined eligibility criteria. Two raters independently assessed the materials by Patient Education and Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) and Clear Communication Index (Index). One rater generated the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) score. Statistical analyses included (1) interrater reliability (IRR) by Cohen’s kappa; (2) the mean, median, standard deviation, range, minimum, maximum, and frequency scores associated with PEMAT, Index, and FKGL; (3) statistical significance of the correlation between PEMAT, Index, FKGL, and Material Type. RESULTS Of 42 materials in this study, (1) inter-rater reliability was 0.94. (2) The mean PEMAT (n=42) understandability was 88.67% (SD±17.69%), with a media of 94% and a range between 21% and 100%; the mean of PEMAT actionability was 88.48% (SD±14.3%), with a media of 100% and a range between 40% and 100%; the mean Index scores was 78.32 (SD±13.03), with a media of 78.35 and a range between 50 and 100. The mean of FKGL of the materials (n=34) was 7.11 (SD±2.60), with a media of 7.3 and a range between 1.7 and 12.5. (3) Correlations were significant (P<0.01) and positive between PEMAT understandability and actionability, PEMAT understandability and Index scores, PEMAT actionability and Index scores, PEMAT understandability and Material Type, PEMAT actionability and Material type. Correlations were significant (P<0.01) and negative between PEMAT understandability and FKGL scores, PEMAT actionability and FKGL scores, Index and FKGL scores, and FKGL and Material Types. No correlation was detected between Index scores and Material types (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 health information provided by states for the public were easy to understand and act upon but could be improved in terms of readability and clear communication. The positive correlation identified between material types and PEMAT understandability/PEMAT actionability/Index scores respectively led to our recommendation on using more infographics and video format for public health messaging. CLINICALTRIAL N/A

Effectiveness of a Cancer Education Program for Women Attending Rural Public Health Departments in North Carolina

2001 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Michielutte ◽  
Louise E. Cunningham ◽  
Penny C. Sharp ◽  
Mark B. Dignan ◽  
Virginia D. Burnette
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Cancer Education ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Public Health Departments ◽  
Rural Public Health
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