Implementation Science to Respond to the Covid-19 Pandemic

Bibliographic Data

ID22066862
AuthorsArianna Rubin Means (0000-0002-4087-7080, University of Washington), Anjuli D Wagner (0000-0002-5851-1220, University of Washington, corresponding author), Eli Kern (Public Health – Seattle & King County), Laura P Newman (0000-0001-8323-9647, Washington State Department of Health), Bryan J Weiner (0000-0002-6996-9480, University of Washington)
Year2020
Volume8
Pages462-462
Publication date2020-09-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2020.00462
PMID32984248
OpenAlexW3082750179
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited36

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to expand globally, requiring massive public health responses from national and local governments. These bodies have taken heterogeneous approaches to their responses, including when and how to introduce and enforce evidence-based interventions-such as social distancing, hand-washing, personal protective equipment (PPE), and testing. In this commentary, we reflect on opportunities for implementation science to contribute meaningfully to the COVID-19 pandemic response. We reflect backwards on missed opportunities in emergency preparedness planning, using the example of PPE stockpiling and supply management; this planning could have been strengthened through process mapping with consensus-building, microplanning with simulation, and stakeholder engagement. We propose current opportunities for action, focusing on enhancing the adoption, fidelity, and sustainment of hand washing and social distancing; we can combine qualitative data, policy analysis, and dissemination science to inform agile and rapid adjustment to social marketing strategies to enhance their penetration. We look to future opportunities to enhance the integration of new evidence in decision-making, focusing on serologic and virologic testing systems; we can leverage simulation and other systems engineering modeling to identify ideal system structures. Finally, we discuss the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic challenges implementation science to become more rapid, rigorous, and nimble in its approach, and integrate with public health practice. In summary, we articulate the ways in which implementation science can inform, and be informed by, the COVID-19 pandemic, looking backwards, proposing actions for the moment, and approaches for the future

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Coronavirus Infections · Data science · Disease · Outbreak · Pandemic · Community Health and Development · Computer Science · Health Policy Implementation Science · Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life · Medicine · Virology