Nonpharmaceutical Interventions for Pandemic Influenza: Communication, Training, and Guidance Needs of Public Health Officials

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the needs of state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) public health officials in communicating, implementing, and monitoring nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during an influenza pandemic.

Methods: A Web-based survey collected data from a nonrandom sample of STLT health departments.

Results: A total of 267 of 346 public health officials responded (77.2% response rate). STLTs identified the general public, families, childcare programs, K-12 schools, and workplaces as their priority audiences for NPI communication. Training needs included NPI decision-making strategies, triggers for implementing NPIs, and communicating NPI recommendations to families and communities, as well as a more practical orientation and real-world examples of how to incorporate NPI guidance into preparedness and response activities. Information is needed on health messaging for various populations and settings and on the legal authority for implementing specific NPIs.

Conclusions: Future NPI recommendations by CDC should continue to be based on feedback solicited from STLT health departments. To fill identified gaps, CDC used these findings to create NPI guidance and materials to assist in prepandemic planning and preparedness for STLTs and various community settings.

Keywords: emergency preparedness; human influenza; needs assessment; pandemics; public health practice.