Feinberg Iris, O'Connor Mary Helen, Khader Saja, Nyman Amy L, Eriksen Michael P
Adult Literacy Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA.
Prevention Research Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA.
Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Apr 12;11(8):1098. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11081098.
During the coronavirus pandemic, it was imperative that real-time, rapidly changing guidance on continuously evolving critical health information about COVID-19 be communicated. This case study highlights how understandable and actionable COVID-19 health information was systematically developed and disseminated to support highly vulnerable refugee, immigrant, and migrant (RIM) communities in Clarkston, Georgia. Our approach was grounded in community-based participatory research (CBPR) incorporating Cultural and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards, plain language and health literacy guidelines, and health communication science to improve the understandability and usability of COVID-19 micro-targeted messaging for RIM communities. We followed a centralized systematic approach to materials development and incorporated local needs and existing networks to ensure cultural and linguistic responsiveness as well as understandability for populations with limited literacy skills. Further, iterative development of materials with community members and agencies provided buy-in prior to dissemination. As part of a multi-pronged community-wide effort, effective materials and messaging provided support to community health workers and organizations working to improve vaccination rates among the RIM community. As a result, we saw vaccine rates in Clarkston outpace other similar areas of the county and state due to this community-wide effort.
在新冠疫情期间，及时传达关于不断演变的新冠肺炎关键健康信息的实时、快速变化的指导意见至关重要。本案例研究突出了关于新冠肺炎的易懂且可行的健康信息是如何系统地开发和传播的，以支持佐治亚州克拉克斯顿高度脆弱的难民、移民和流动工人（RIM）社区。我们的方法基于社区参与式研究（CBPR），纳入了文化和语言适当服务（CLAS）标准、简明语言和健康素养指南以及健康传播科学，以提高针对RIM社区的新冠肺炎微目标信息的易懂性和可用性。我们采用集中式系统方法进行材料开发，并纳入当地需求和现有网络，以确保对文化和语言的响应能力以及对识字技能有限人群的易懂性。此外，与社区成员和机构反复进行材料开发，在传播之前获得了认可。作为全社区多管齐下努力的一部分，有效的材料和信息为致力于提高RIM社区疫苗接种率的社区卫生工作者和组织提供了支持。结果，由于全社区的这一努力，我们看到克拉克斯顿的疫苗接种率超过了该县和该州的其他类似地区。
