State written pandemic plans: An assessment of inclusion of federal recommendations

Research Objective

This study will create a standard quantitative measurement tool utilizing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations for state and local pandemic planning to measure the extent of state written pandemic plans' inclusion of federal recommendations.

Study Design

This will be a cross-sectional comparative analysis of current state pandemic influenza plans from all 50 states as of March 2008. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) State and Local Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist will be turned into an 85 factor matrix with each recommendation having a categorical measure of no mention = 1, brief mention but no description or action item associated with the factor = 2, or description of the item = 3. The scores of each factor will be added together to create an overall “preparedness score.” States will be compared across 10 domains including Community Preparedness Leadership and Networking, Surveillance, Public Health and Clinical Laboratories, Healthcare and Public Health Partners, Infection Control and Clinical Guidelines, Vaccine Distribution and Use, Antiviral Distribution and Use, Community Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Communications, Workforce Support: Psychosocial Considerations and Information Needs.

Population Studied

All 50 written state pandemic flu plans will be included in this study.

Conclusion

This study will offer a clear quantitative assessment of state written pandemic plans' inclusion of federal recommendations. States will be able to clearly see the gaps in their plans and compare themselves to other states throughout the country.