Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
PLoS One. 2013 Aug 7;8(8):e71106. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071106. Print 2013.
Developing appropriate risk messages during challenging situations like public health outbreaks is complicated. The focus of this paper is on how First Nations and Metis people in Manitoba, Canada, responded to the public health management of pandemic H1N1, using a focus group methodology (n = 23 focus groups). Focus group conversations explored participant reactions to messaging regarding the identification of H1N1 virus risk groups, the H1N1 vaccine and how priority groups to receive the vaccine were established. To better contextualize the intentions of public health professionals, key informant interviews (n = 20) were conducted with different health decision makers (e.g., public health officials, people responsible for communications, representatives from some First Nations and Metis self-governing organizations). While risk communication practice has improved, 'one size' messaging campaigns do not work effectively, particularly when communicating about who is most 'at-risk'. Public health agencies need to pay more attention to the specific socio-economic, historical and cultural contexts of First Nations and Metis citizens when planning for, communicating and managing responses associated with pandemic outbreaks to better tailor both the messages and delivery. More attention is needed to directly engage First Nations and Metis communities in the development and dissemination of risk messaging.
在公共卫生事件等具有挑战性的情况下制定适当的风险信息较为复杂。本文的重点是探讨加拿大马尼托巴省的第一民族和梅蒂斯人如何应对大流行性 H1N1 的公共卫生管理，使用焦点小组方法（n = 23 个焦点小组）。焦点小组的对话探讨了参与者对有关识别 H1N1 病毒风险群体、H1N1 疫苗以及如何确定疫苗优先接种群体的信息的反应。为了更好地理解公共卫生专业人员的意图，对不同的卫生决策者（例如，公共卫生官员、负责沟通的人员、一些第一民族和梅蒂斯自治组织的代表）进行了重点人物访谈（n = 20）。虽然风险沟通实践有所改善，但“一刀切”的信息传递方式并不能有效地发挥作用，特别是在传达谁最“处于风险之中”时。公共卫生机构在规划、沟通和管理与大流行爆发相关的应对措施时，需要更加关注第一民族和梅蒂斯公民的特定社会经济、历史和文化背景，以便更好地调整信息和传递方式。需要更加关注直接让第一民族和梅蒂斯社区参与制定和传播风险信息。
