From Science to Policy and Practice: A Critical Assessment of Knowledge Management before, during, and after Environmental Public Health Disasters.

Mélissa Généreux,Marc Lafontaine,Angela Eykelbosh

doi:10.3390/ijerph16040587

Abstract

Canada regularly faces environmental public health (EPH) disasters. Given the importance of evidence-based, risk-informed decision-making, we aimed to critically assess the integration of EPH expertise and research into each phase of disaster management. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 leaders in disaster management from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and were complemented by other qualitative methods. Three topics were examined: governance, knowledge creation/translation, and related barriers/needs. Data were analyzed through a four-step content analysis. Six critical success factors emerged from the analysis: blending the best of traditional and modern approaches; fostering community engagement; cultivating relationships; investing in preparedness and recovery; putting knowledge into practice; and ensuring sufficient human and financial resources. Several promising knowledge-to-action strategies were also identified, including mentorship programs, communities of practice, advisory groups, systematized learning, and comprehensive repositories of tools and resources. There is no single roadmap to incorporate EPH expertise and research into disaster management. Our findings suggest that preparation for and management of EPH disaster risks requires effective long-term collaboration between science, policy, and EPH practitioners at all levels in order to facilitate coordinated and timely deployment of multi-sectoral/jurisdictional resources when and where they are most needed.

Highlights

Canada, like many countries, increasingly faces emergencies and disasters that have public health impacts [1], including large-scale chemical incidents and natural disasters
The DR2 Program is a national framework for research on the medical and public health aspects of disasters and public health emergencies [24,25] which offers data collection tools and resources, training and exercise materials, and research protocols, and facilitates networking between researchers and practitioners responding to environmental emergencies
16 interviews were conducted among Key informants (KIs) from Canada (n = 16) and other jurisdictions (n = 7)

Summary

Introduction

Like many countries, increasingly faces emergencies and disasters that have public health impacts [1], including large-scale chemical incidents (e.g., the 2013 Lac-Mégantic train derailment) and natural disasters (e.g., the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfires). With 35 explicit references to health, this people-centered framework encourages encourages both risk reduction and resilience strengthening through an all-hazard, all-of-state and both risk reduction and resilience strengthening through an all-hazard, all-of-state and all-of-society all-of-society approach [8]. Science should routinely be used to support disaster risk reduction [9] and, and, holds a key place in the Sendai Framework. Knowledge flowing from and to different stakeholders stakeholders ensures that policy and practice are evidence-based and risk-informed (Figure 1; [10])

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Discussion

Conclusion