Leslie Abimbola, Woods Elizabeth K, van den Broek-Altenburg Eline M, Stein Gary S, Carney Jan K
Larner College of Medicine University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, United States.
Front Public Health. 2025 Jun 3;13:1594833. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1594833. eCollection 2025.
Public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the critical role of effective risk communication in managing crises. The Public Health Emergency Risk and Crisis Communication framework (PHERCC) provides a structured approach to crafting, delivering, and refining public health messages to build trust, promote compliance, and enhance societal resilience.
This qualitative study examined COVID-19 risk communication strategies in rural Northern New England using the PHERCC framework. Data were collected through seventeen stakeholder interviews, seven focus groups, and a pilot study conducted between November 2022 and March 2023. Stakeholders represented state and local organizations, while focus group participants included rural residents. A thematic analysis using NVivo software aligned findings with the six PHERCC domains: Evidence, Initiator, Channel, Publics, Message, and Feedback.
Stakeholders emphasized transparency in public health messaging, adapting to evolving evidence while maintaining consistency. Trusted local sources and traditional media were essential for reaching vulnerable populations, particularly older adults in rural areas. Public feedback highlighted barriers such as misinformation, translation challenges, and limited internet access. The pilot study confirmed that community collaboration and tailored messaging increased understanding and trust among rural residents. Simplified accessible core messages and consistent updates further enhanced public engagement.
This study shows the importance of evidence-based, adaptive, and population subgroup sensitive communication during public health emergencies. The PHERCC framework proved instrumental in addressing challenges, promoting trust, and refining strategies. Investing in inclusive communication systems and leveraging community partnerships are important for effective responses to future health crises.
诸如新冠疫情这样的突发公共卫生事件凸显了有效风险沟通在危机管理中的关键作用。突发公共卫生事件风险与危机沟通框架（PHERCC）提供了一种结构化方法，用于制定、传递和完善公共卫生信息，以建立信任、促进合规并增强社会复原力。
本定性研究使用PHERCC框架审视了新英格兰北部农村地区的新冠疫情风险沟通策略。数据收集于2022年11月至2023年3月期间，通过17次利益相关者访谈、7次焦点小组讨论以及一项试点研究进行。利益相关者代表州和地方组织，而焦点小组参与者包括农村居民。使用NVivo软件进行的主题分析将研究结果与PHERCC的六个领域对齐：证据、发起者、渠道、受众、信息和反馈。
利益相关者强调公共卫生信息传递中的透明度，在适应不断变化的证据的同时保持一致性。可靠的本地信息源和传统媒体对于覆盖弱势群体，特别是农村地区的老年人至关重要。公众反馈突出了诸如错误信息、翻译挑战和互联网接入受限等障碍。试点研究证实，社区合作和量身定制的信息增强了农村居民的理解和信任。简化易懂的核心信息和持续更新进一步提高了公众参与度。
本研究表明了在突发公共卫生事件期间基于证据、适应性强且对人群亚组敏感的沟通的重要性。PHERCC框架在应对挑战、促进信任和完善策略方面发挥了重要作用。投资于包容性沟通系统并利用社区伙伴关系对于有效应对未来的健康危机至关重要。
