How a Public Engagement Process Helped Inform Massachusetts Public Information Strategies during an Influenza Pandemic

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health received a grant from CDC and embarked upon a public engagement project that sought to involve a broad range of stakeholders and residents in developing an effective public information strategy during an influenza pandemic. At the end of the process, a series of recommendations were derived across four themes: Trustworthiness of Information; Increasing Compliance with Public Health Advice and Guidance; Distributing Information; and Roles for Local Public Health and the Community.

While many of the recommendations were directed at engaging the general public as a whole, several focused specifically on reaching vulnerable and underserved populations. These recommendations helped inform the state's pandemic planning strategies prior to the discovery of the novel H1N1 virus in spring 2009, and were put into practice as the pandemic continued into the 2009-2010 flu season. Outreach to vulnerable populations on H1N1 prevention and care took place using a variety of tools in a wide range of media. They included daily updates to the MDPH H1N1 blog, translation of many posted and disseminated documents into over 14 languages, podcasting in multiple languages , ethnic media outreach including radio and TV interviews, televised PSA's targeting at-risk populations, and outreach through community liaisons to refugee populations residing in the state.