How can we communicate better with people and communities ab | Figure 1
%27%3e%3cg%20id=%27Group-14%27%20transform=%27translate(13.000000,%20103.176124)%27%3e%3cg%20id=%27Group-Copy-5%27%20transform=%27translate(0.000000,%20182.676124)%27%3e%3crect%20id=%27Rectangle-8%27%20fill=%27%23E2E0DE%27%20x=%270%27%20y=%270%27%20width=%2736%27%20height=%2736%27%20rx=%2718%27%3e%3c/rect%3e%3cpath%20d=%27M28,27.6503435%20C28,22.127496%2023.5228474,17.6503435%2018,17.6503435%20C12.4771525,17.6503435%208,22.127496%208,27.6503435%20M18,16.3472505%20C20.8165136,16.3472505%2023.099749,14.0640151%2023.099749,11.2475015%20C23.099749,8.43098783%2020.8165136,6.1477524%2018,6.1477524%20C15.1834863,6.1477524%2012.9002509,8.43098783%2012.9002509,11.2475015%20C12.9002509,14.0640151%2015.1834863,16.3472505%2018,16.3472505%20Z%27%20id=%27Combined-Shape%27%20fill=%27%23FFFFFF%27%20fill-rule=%27nonzero%27%3e%3c/path%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Deleted account
Some actions are only available when you log in.
How can we communicate better with people and communities about measures which help to prevent and control COVID‐19?
Key messages
‐ During a pandemic, governments and other authorities need to clearly communicate with the public about how people can keep themselves safe. This communication needs to be based on trust and well‐planned. People and communities affected by the pandemic need to be involved in planning and delivering the communication. The communication should reach all people across the community, including those who have trouble reading and writing, people who speak languages other than the community's dominant language, and people who face other types of disadvantage. Clear communication can improve how well people are able to follow measures to keep themselves safe.
‐ This review identified six themes which can guide best‐practice approaches to public health communication during a pandemic. These themes are:
- Strengthening public trust and countering misinformation;
- Two‐way communication involving communities so that people have input into how communication can best happen;
- Development of and preparation for public communication by considering who the audience is and how different people's needs within the community can be met;
- Public communication features, including how and when messages are delivered to communities;
- Supporting behaviour change at individual and population levels;
- Fostering and sustaining receptiveness and responsiveness to public health communication over time.
‐ The review findings can help governments and other authorities make decisions about public health communication during a pandemic. The findings are relevant to COVID‐19 and future public health emergencies. The findings can be applied across different countries and different emergency situations.
‐ Some gaps in the research were found through this review. These included: communication with people who are at higher risk of getting severely sick or dying from COVID‐19; communication in lower‐ and middle‐income countries; and communication in settings known for social inequalities. Further research in these areas may help increase knowledge and improve practices related to pandemic communication.