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Rønnevik DH, Pettersen BJ, Grimsmo A, Steinsbekk A. The Role of Chief Medical officers in making Public Health Overview Documents in Norwegian Municipalities. A qualitative Study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1132. [PMID: 38654293 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18608-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS To investigate how Chief Medical Officers experience their role in the municipalities´ work with making the public health overview documents, demanded by the Norwegian Public Health Act from 2012. METHODS A qualitative study with semi-structured focus group interviews with 21 Chief Medical Officers from 20 different municipalities in Norway. The interviews were conducted in 2017. The data were analyzed thematically. RESULTS The Chief Medical Officers were mainly positive to participating in making public health overview documents. They took on roles as leaders of the work, medical advisors, data collectors towards local GPs and listening post to other sectors. Organizational factors like too small positions and a lack of tradition to involve the CMO in public health work were experienced as barriers to their involvement. The collaboration with the public health coordinators was said to be rewarding, and the intersectoral process involved employees from other sectors in a new way in public health. Although there were some positive experiences, several CMOs considered the use and impact of the public health overview document as limited. CONCLUSION There was a large variation in the amount and the type of involvement the Chief Medical Officers had in making the public health overview documents in Norwegian municipalities. More research is needed to understand if this has any consequences for the quality of public health work in the municipalities and whether it is a sign of a changing role of the Chief Medical Officers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Betty J Pettersen
- ISM, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway
- Municipality of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
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Reyes Bernard N, Tudehope L, Phung H, Harris N, Sofija E. An Analysis of Crisis Communication Delivered by the Chief Health Officer During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Queensland, Australia. JOURNAL OF HEALTH COMMUNICATION 2023; 28:689-698. [PMID: 37642460 DOI: 10.1080/10810730.2023.2252373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state of Queensland, Australia, had relative success in containing viral transmission, presenting a unique case for potential insights into effective crisis management. Limited research exists into the communication style and effectiveness of Chief Health Officers (CHOs) throughout pandemic scenarios. Using an adapted Crisis Emergency and Risk Communication (CERC) framework based on 12 themes which indirectly assess domains of trust, credibility, transparency, and accountability. A content analysis of 107 press conferences dating from January 30th to December 24th, 2020 was conducted to analyze crisis communication style delivered by the Queensland CHO and guest speakers. Our analysis found that most communication aligned with the CERC framework, suggesting that adherence to CERC themes in crisis communication may have played an important role in the state's success. However, areas which were lacking included themes relating to efforts to address, search and gather knowledge. Analysis also revealed that some CERC themes overlapped or were missing, thus triggering the development of a modified framework to provide a more succinct coding model. Our findings demonstrate the importance communication plays in successful crisis management and the modified framework can be applied to analyze communication at national and sub-national levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Reyes Bernard
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lucy Tudehope
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Hai Phung
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Neil Harris
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ernesta Sofija
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia
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Cooper CA. Vaccine hesitancy and respect for public health measures: Citizens’ trust in politicians and public servants across national, subnational and municipal levels of government. SSM Popul Health 2023; 22:101386. [PMID: 37090687 PMCID: PMC10119790 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Research shows that citizens' trust in government is associated with lower vaccine hesitancy and an increased willingness to follow public health measures. Thus far, however, the population health literature has largely conceptualized "government" as a unitary actor. This article furthers our understanding of this relationship by examining two important features of modern governance that have largely gone unexamined: (1) that governing involves popularly elected politicians and appointed bureaucrats; and (2), that governing often comprises many levels of government within the same country. Analyzing survey data from Canada with various multivariate regression models, this article finds that the relationship political trust has with vaccine hesitancy and intention to follow for public health measures is more complex than presently recognized. Specifically, a larger change in citizens' public health behaviors is associated with trust in public health officials than with trust in government, and of particular importance is trust in national public health authorities, despite the fact that public health measures in Canada are largely the jurisdiction of subnational governments. The implications of these findings for population health research and policymakers are discussed.
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Lupton D. Attitudes to COVID-19 Vaccines Among Australians During the Delta Variant Wave: A Qualitative Interview Study. Health Promot Int 2023; 38:7026242. [PMID: 36738451 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daac192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 globally, a range of vaccines has been developed and delivered to reduce viral transmission and prevent COVID cases. This article reports findings from a qualitative research project involving telephone interviews with a diverse group of 40 adult Australians about their experiences of the COVID crisis. Interviews were conducted in late 2021 when Australians were dealing with the Delta variant outbreak and following a major effort on the part of government authorities to improve COVID-19 vaccination supplies and take-up. Responses to a question about COVID vaccines revealed that attitudes to and acceptance of COVID vaccines among this group were overwhelmingly positive. All participants had received at least one vaccine dose and the majority expressed views in support of mass vaccination against COVID. People who were hesitant or cautious about accepting COVID vaccination referred to the vaccines' novelty and potential side effects. While many people were aware of debates about vaccine safety in the news media, trust in science and medical advice about COVID vaccines was strong. Participants wanted to protect themselves and others by accepting the recommended doses. Participants' locale was a major factor in shaping experiences and stances on vaccines. The setting of government targets and mandates for vaccination was a key motivating factor. The goal of 'getting back to normal' was expressed as another reason for accepting vaccination, particularly for those living in areas that had been badly affected by high COVID cases and prolonged lockdowns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Lupton
- Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health and Social Policy Research Centre, Goodsell Building, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney 2052, Australia
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Bhatia D, Allin S, Di Ruggiero E. Mobilization of science advice by the Canadian federal government to support the COVID-19 pandemic response. HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 10:19. [PMID: 36687774 PMCID: PMC9844194 DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01501-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The procurement and provision of expert-driven, evidence-informed, and independent science advice is integral to timely decision-making during public health emergencies. The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has underscored the need for sound evidence in public health policy and exposed the challenges facing government science advisory mechanisms. This paper is a jurisdictional case study describing (i) the federal science advice bodies and mechanisms for public health in Canada (i.e., the federal science advice "ecosystem"); and (ii) how these bodies and mechanisms have mobilized and evolved to procure expertise and evidence to inform decisions during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. We reviewed publicly accessible Government of Canada documents, technical reports, and peer-reviewed articles available up to December 2021. Canada's federal landscape of science advisory bodies for public health within the Health Portfolio was largely shaped by Canada's experiences with the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome and 2009 H1N1 outbreaks. In parallel, Canada has a designated science advisory apparatus that has seen frequent reforms since the early 2000s, with the current Office of the Chief Science Advisor created within the Science Portfolio in 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated Canada's science advice ecosystem, with involvement from departments, expert advisory groups, and partnerships within both the federal Health and Science Portfolios. Although the engagement of federal departments outside the health sector is promising, the COVID-19 experience in Canada supports the need to institutionalize science advisory bodies for public health to improve pandemic preparedness and ensure rapid mobilization of well-coordinated and independent advice in future emergencies. This review also identified pressing areas for further inquiry to strengthen science advice for public health in Canada, including to assess the independence of science advisory actors and the interaction between federal and subnational authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Bhatia
- North American Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Toronto, ON Canada
- Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Sara Allin
- North American Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Toronto, ON Canada
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Erica Di Ruggiero
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Division, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- Centre for Global Health, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
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Lupton D, Lewis S. Australians' experiences of COVID-19 during the early months of the crisis: A qualitative interview study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1092322. [PMID: 36908481 PMCID: PMC9995885 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1092322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The COVID-19 crisis has wrought major changes to people's lives across the globe since the beginning of the outbreak in early 2020. The "Australians' Experiences of COVID-19" qualitative descriptive study was established to explore how Australians from different geographical areas and social groups experienced the COVID-19 crisis. Methods Three sets of semi-structured interviews, each with a diverse group of 40 adults across Australia, were completed between 2020 and 2022. This article reports findings from the first set of interviews, conducted by telephone in mid-2020. Results The participants discussed their experiences of living through this period, which was characterized by strong public health measures to contain the spread of COVID, including a national lockdown and border closures. Interview fieldnotes and verbatim transcripts were used to conduct an interpretive thematic analysis. The analysis is structured around the following five themes covering the quotidian and affective aspects of participants' lives in the early months of the COVID crisis: "disruption to routines;" "habituating to preventive measures;" "social isolation and loneliness;" "changes to work and education;" and "little change to life." A sixth theme concerns how participants responded to our question about what they imagined their lives would be like after the pandemic: "imagining post-COVID life." Discussion The crisis affected participants' experience of daily life variously according to such factors as their social circumstances and obligations as well as their histories of illness, making visible some of the unequal social and economic effects of the pandemic across different genders, ages, localities and socioeconomic groups. Our participants fell into three roughly equal groups: (i) those who found the lockdown and associated restrictions very difficult; (ii) those who reported feeling barely affected by these conditions; and (iii) those who found benefits to the "slowing down" of life during this period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah Lupton
- Vitalities Lab, Centre for Social Research in Health, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
| | - Sophie Lewis
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
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Willison CE, Falkenbach M, Greer SL, Singer PM. Backsliding among indicators of democratic stability relevant to public health: Risks in OECD nations. WORLD MEDICAL & HEALTH POLICY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wmh3.558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charley E. Willison
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health Cornell University Ithaca New York USA
| | - Michelle Falkenbach
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health Cornell University Ithaca New York USA
| | - Scott L. Greer
- Department of Health Management and Policy University of Michigan Ann Arbor Michigan USA
| | - Phillip M. Singer
- Department of Political Science University of Utah Salt Lake City Utah USA
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Cooper B, Donner E, Crase L, Robertson H, Carter D, Short M, Drigo B, Leder K, Roiko A, Fielding K. Maintaining a social license to operate for wastewater-based monitoring: The case of managing infectious disease and the COVID-19 pandemic. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 320:115819. [PMID: 35930884 PMCID: PMC9304157 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater monitoring as a public health tool is well-established and the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic has seen its widespread uptake. Given the significant potential of wastewater monitoring as a public health surveillance and decision support tool, it is important to understand what measures are required to allow the long-term benefits of wastewater monitoring to be fully realized, including how to establish and/or maintain public support. The potential for positive SARS-CoV-2 detections to trigger enforced, community-wide public health interventions (e.g., lockdowns and other impacts on civil liberties) further emphasises the need to better understand the role of public engagement in successful wastewater-based monitoring programs. This paper systematically reviews the processes of building and maintaining the social license to operate wastewater monitoring. We specifically explore the relationship between different stakeholder communities and highlight the information and actions that are required to establish a social license to operate and then prevent its loss. The paper adds to the literature on social license to operate by extending its application to new domains and offers a dynamic model of social license to help guide the agenda for researcher and practitioner communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany Cooper
- University of South Australia, School of Business, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
| | - Erica Donner
- University of South Australia, Future Industries Institute, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
| | - Lin Crase
- University of South Australia, School of Business, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
| | - Hamish Robertson
- University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Health, 15 Broadway Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
| | - David Carter
- University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Law, 15 Broadway Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
| | - Michael Short
- University of South Australia, Future Industries Institute, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
| | - Barbara Drigo
- University of South Australia, Future Industries Institute, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
| | - Karin Leder
- Monash University, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia.
| | - Anne Roiko
- Griffith University, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia.
| | - Kelly Fielding
- The University of Queensland, School of Communication and Arts, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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de Leeuw E. Unmasking leadership. Health Promot Int 2021; 36:1209-1212. [PMID: 34647595 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daab155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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