Communicating about Bioterrorism and other Public Health Emergencies Focus Groups with Rhode Island

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Communicating about Bioterrorism and other
Public Health Emergencies Focus Groups with
Rhode Island ResidentsInterviews with
Organizations that Serve Minority and Special
Populations2003
RI Department of Health Policy Studies Inc. (PSI)
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Research Goal

• To assess
• What Rhode Island residents want to know about
  bioterrorism before, during, and after an
  emergency
• Who do residents trust to deliver the information
• Preferred vehicles and formats for receiving the
  information
• Perception of Rhode Islands readiness to respond
  to a bioterrorism emergency

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Methodology2002-2003

• 12 focus groups with general public
• in 7 areas of the state
• age ranges 18-35 36-54 55
• African-American, Hispanic groups

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Methodology2002-2003

• 19 in-depth interviews with community program
  staff representing 17 agencies, commissions, and
  programs across the state representing the
  following populations
• Portuguese-speaking
• African
• South East Asian
• English as a second language/Low
  literacy/Immigrant populations
• African American
• Hearing Impaired
• Visually Impaired

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RI Residents want information NOW, before an
emergency occurs

• How is the state preparing to respond?
• Not too many details
• Where to go and what to do?
• Plans for general public information
• School and hospital preparation
• Assure equal access to
• medical care
• vaccine
• emergency information

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Trusted Messenger

• Before an emergency
• Government sources
• News Media spokespersons
• NOT from medical providers or religious leaders
• During and after an emergency
• Government authorities and officials
• Always someone with
• Credibility, Expertise, Track record, Familiarity
• Appearance of not reading from a script

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Residents preferred vehicles and formats for
receiving the information

• Before an emergency
• Print materials
• Television and radio
• Internet
• Other
• During and after an emergency
• Television and radio
• Other

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Vehicles for Delivering Information To Minority
Organizations
Minority/Special Population Interviews

• Most would go to
• Television or Radio
• Community agencies
• Newspapers
• Websites
• Visually Impaired
• SAP radio
• Portuguese-speaking
• TV/CATV/Radio
• Agencies would call their members

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Vehicles for Delivering Information DURING and
AFTER an Emergency
Minority/Special Population Interviews

• SE Asians
• Simple text to agencies to translate, mail out,
  and broadcast on TV
• African American
• Radio 106, 94.5, WBRU on Sundays, WPRO
• Urban League, etc.
• Visually Impaired
• E-mail list (RI Commission on Deaf and Hard of
  Hearing)
• RI Registry of Interpreters for Deaf
• Live interpreters using American sign on TV
• Internet
• Audio messaging

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Trusted Sources of Information
Minority/Special Population Interviews

• All trust service providers and cultural
  organizations associated with their community
• Most trust religious organizations and local news
  media
• Public officials

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Trusted Sources of Information
Minority/Special Population Interviews

• Trusted Sources mentioned specifically
• African American
• black public officials
• John Hope Settlement House Urban League NAACP
• Southeast Asian
• religious officials, newscasters, Governor ,
  Mayor
• African
• mosques and churches
• ESL/Literacy services
• religious organizations, media

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Trusted Sources of Information
Minority/Special Population Interviews

• Portuguese
• media broadcast in their language
• churches,
• pediatricians
• Hearing impaired
• police and fire personnel,
• newscasters on CC TV
• Deaf/Blind individuals mostly trust their
  families to provide information
• Visually impaired
• federal and state officials,

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Recommendations Made Regarding Information
Delivery DURING an Emergency
Minority/Special Population Interviews

• Groups will trust public official partnered with
  community organizations
• Public officials and trusted service providers
  should
• work together
• identify ways to reach these populations
• communicate messages directly to minorities and
  special populations

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Recommendations for Proceeding
Minority/Special Population Interviews

• Develop a network of community agencies
• Utilize mechanisms already used by the special
  populations to distribute information on
  bioterrorism and other health emergencies
• Seek assistance from community leaders to inform
  special populations

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Recommendations for Proceeding
Minority/Special Population Interviews

• Be prepared to inform populations about
• where to turn for accurate and credible
  information
• how to protect themselves and their families
• what resources are available in the community
• Develop high quality translations of materials
• Ask special populations to take steps to protect
  themselves
• feasible during emergencies
• explain the rationale

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BT Awareness Campaign

• Use news media re smallpox vaccine
• Phase 1 (2003) direct mailing campaign
• 400,000 households
• English/Spanish
• What is bioterrorism?
• What is RI doing to prepare?
• What can you do to prepare
• Where to call or go for more information
• Trust building

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BT Awareness Campaign

• Phase 2 (2004)
• Multi-phase, multi-media
• Information booklet
• Information Booklet
• Partner with Boy Scouts (delivery to 400,000
  residences)
• Where to go what to do
• Make a Kit
• Make a plan
• Be prepared
• Multiple translations and posters
• Media (radio/bus cards) promotion

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Special Communications Populations
All populations
Traditional special populations
Populations who dont understand English or
Spanish due to -language - mental or
physical disability
Those with guardians
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April 22 Workshop

• Connect through community-based organizations
• e.g. Chinese restaurants/churches
• Community/neighborhood alert sirens
• Make information specific, actionable
• Opt for face to face communication
• Other delivery services (USPS, UPS, milk)
• Behavioral health-stress handling diseases
• Educate ahead of time/drills

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Special Communications Population Project

• RFP for developing community capacity
• Establish networks-- CBOs and radio
• Resources for community-based organizations
• Phone trees
• Real time translations
• Pre-recorded emergency radio information
• Multiple languages
• Other approaches
• Test and evaluate

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Objective

• To assure access for every Rhode Islander to
  public health information in an emergency

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The End