Mark L Wieland1, Gladys B Asiedu2, Jane W Njeru1, Jennifer A Weis3, Kiley Lantz4, Adeline Abbenyi4, Luz Molina5, Yahye Ahmed6, Ahmed Osman7, Miriam Goodson8, Gloria Torres-Herbeck8, Omar Nur6, Graciela Porraz Capetillo5, Ahmed A Mohamed1, Irene G Sia9. 1. Division of Community Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. 2. Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. 3. Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. 4. Center for Health Equity and Community Engagement Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. 5. Language Services, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. 6. Somali American Social Services Association, Rochester, MN, USA. 7. Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association, Rochester, MN, USA. 8. Alliance of Chicanos, Hispanics and Latin Americans, Rochester, MN, USA. 9. Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess an intervention that was created by a community-academic partnership to address COVID-19 health inequities. We evaluated a community-engaged bidirectional pandemic crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) framework with immigrant and refugee populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A 17-year community-engaged research partnership adopted a CERC framework in March 2020 to address COVID-19 prevention, testing, and socioeconomic impacts with immigrant and refugee groups in southeast Minnesota. The partnership used bidirectional communication between communication leaders and their social networks to refine messages, leverage resources, and advise policy makers. We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation for intervention acceptability, feasibility, reach, adaptation, and sustainability through multisource data, including email communications, work group notes, semistructured interviews, and focus groups. RESULTS: The intervention reached at least 39 000 people in 9 months. It was implemented as intended and perceived efficacy was high. Frequent communication between community and academic partners allowed the team to respond rapidly to concerns and facilitated connection of community members to resources. Framework implementation also led to systems and policy changes to meet the needs of immigrant and refugee populations. CONCLUSIONS: Community-engaged CERC is feasible and sustainable and can reduce COVID-19 disparities through shared creation and dissemination of public health messages, enhanced connection to existing resources, and incorporation of community perspectives in regional pandemic mitigation policies.
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess an intervention that was created by a community-academic partnership to address COVID-19 health inequities. We evaluated a community-engaged bidirectional pandemic crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) framework with immigrant and refugee populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A 17-year community-engaged research partnership adopted a CERC framework in March 2020 to address COVID-19 prevention, testing, and socioeconomic impacts with immigrant and refugee groups in southeast Minnesota. The partnership used bidirectional communication between communication leaders and their social networks to refine messages, leverage resources, and advise policy makers. We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation for intervention acceptability, feasibility, reach, adaptation, and sustainability through multisource data, including email communications, work group notes, semistructured interviews, and focus groups. RESULTS: The intervention reached at least 39 000 people in 9 months. It was implemented as intended and perceived efficacy was high. Frequent communication between community and academic partners allowed the team to respond rapidly to concerns and facilitated connection of community members to resources. Framework implementation also led to systems and policy changes to meet the needs of immigrant and refugee populations. CONCLUSIONS: Community-engaged CERC is feasible and sustainable and can reduce COVID-19 disparities through shared creation and dissemination of public health messages, enhanced connection to existing resources, and incorporation of community perspectives in regional pandemic mitigation policies.
Entities:
Keywords:
COVID-19; community-based participatory research; community-engaged research; immigrant and refugee health; risk communication
Authors: Mark L Wieland; Jane W Njeru; Marcelo M Hanza; Deborah H Boehm; Davinder Singh; Barbara P Yawn; Christi A Patten; Matthew M Clark; Jennifer A Weis; Ahmed Osman; Miriam Goodson; Maria D Porraz Capetillo; Abdullah Hared; Rachel Hasley; Laura Guzman-Corrales; Rachel Sandler; Valentina Hernandez; Paul J Novotny; Jeff A Sloan; Irene G Sia Journal: Diabetes Educ Date: 2017-06-07 Impact factor: 2.140
Authors: Charlotte L Clarke; Heather Wilkinson; Julie Watson; Jane Wilcockson; Lindsay Kinnaird; Toby Williamson Journal: Qual Health Res Date: 2018-05-16
Authors: H Nina Kim; Kristine F Lan; Esi Nkyekyer; Santiago Neme; Martine Pierre-Louis; Lisa Chew; Herbert C Duber Journal: JAMA Netw Open Date: 2020-09-01
Authors: Elizabeth G Bouchard; Frances G Saad-Harfouche; Nikia Clark; Jomary Colon; Susan A LaValley; Mary Reid; Kristopher Attwood; Maansi Bansal-Travers; Kathryn Glaser Journal: J Cancer Educ Date: 2022-07-15 Impact factor: 1.771