Community Health Information Research Articles

The Effect of Community Health Information System on Health Care Services Utilization in Rural Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, the community health information system (CHIS) is implemented at the health post (hp) level with the aim of improving service delivery and use. We conducted a national level assessment of CHIS utilization and explored the associations of CHIS utilization with use of antenatal care (ANC), postnatal care (PNC), institutional delivery and child immunization in rural Ethiopia. We conducted a cross-sectional study measuring community-based health service use and HP based CHIS assessment from March to May 2019. Data were collected from 343 HPs and 2,864 women who delivered in the last five years, and multistage sampling was used to select the study subjects. We used descriptive statistics for CHIS implementation and service utilization and multilevel logistic regression to investigate the association of CHIS implementation with maternal and child health care services use. Fifty five percent of the HPs were implementing CHIS. These HPs were using a paper-based household data collection tool called family folder (FF). Of the HPs, one third implemented lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) based data quality check and 60.4% documented and followed execution of decisions. Overall, among the eligible women, 40% used ANC, close to 50% of currently married women used ANC services; 28% of women that fall in the high wealth index category used PNC within 48 hours after delivery; and 86.1% of women who had at least a high school education delivered at a health facility. Implementation of CHIS and family folder utilization and conducting LQAS based data quality check in the HPs were significantly associated with increased odds of ANC, delivery, and vaccination services use. We found that better implementation of CHIS was associated with better maternal and child health service use which implies that increasing utilization of CHIS at HPs will improve mother and child health service use.

MP34-01 UTI KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT AND ACQUISITION FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AMONG ADULT WOMEN

You have accessJournal of UrologyCME1 Apr 2023MP34-01 UTI KNOWLEDGE ASSESSMENT AND ACQUISITION FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AMONG ADULT WOMEN Stephanie Gleicher, Elisabeth Sebesta, Melissa Kaufman, Roger Dmochowski, and W. Stuart Reynolds Stephanie GleicherStephanie Gleicher More articles by this author , Elisabeth SebestaElisabeth Sebesta More articles by this author , Melissa KaufmanMelissa Kaufman More articles by this author , Roger DmochowskiRoger Dmochowski More articles by this author , and W. Stuart ReynoldsW. Stuart Reynolds More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/JU.0000000000003268.01AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Substantial information and misinformation exists about urinary tract infection (UTI) management, and there is significant variability in provider expertise. While evidence-based UTI guidelines exist for providers, many women are not able to access this information. The aim of this study was to assess current UTI knowledge and preferences for information dissemination in a population-based cohort of adult women. METHODS: Subjects were recruited from Researchmatch database to participate in a web-based study. Inclusion criteria included non-pregnant females aged 18 or older who had a UTI in the last 12 months. Subjects were provided various statements to assess UTI knowledge/perceptions, and asked about preferences for health-information communication. SPSS was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Among the 755 subjects, >50% believe most women suffer from UTI, women get more UTIs as they get older, and supplements are available to prevent UTI (Table 1). 46.2% of women believe UTIs are caused by tight fitting clothing and 44.6% believe UTIs are caused by lack of cleanliness. Among subjects, 89.8% have looked up information regarding UTI, and 81.2% endorsed that health information is more meaningful from their health care provider (HCP). 88.5% of women normally obtain health information from their HCP, and 79.7% obtain information from online websites. When asked about educational preferences, 53.8% strongly preferred office-based HCP visits, followed by virtual HCP visits (25.3%) and online websites (25.2%). More than 30% of subjects would be willing to spend 15+ minutes reviewing information about UTIs, and 33.5% would like to receive UTI information weekly or monthly. Barriers to obtaining information included that information is too complex (26.6%), they did not know where to find information (26.%) and having too much written information (24.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Women have misperceptions about UTIs. Despite most subjects looking up UTI health information, it is often too complex, hard to find, or cumbersome. Most women find health information more meaningful from their HCP and prefer office-based HCP educational platforms. Almost half of participants are interested in frequent UTI information updates. Future research is needed to better design educational campaigns regarding UTI. Source of Funding: VICTR Award ID VR63981 © 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 209Issue Supplement 4April 2023Page: e459 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2023 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Stephanie Gleicher More articles by this author Elisabeth Sebesta More articles by this author Melissa Kaufman More articles by this author Roger Dmochowski More articles by this author W. Stuart Reynolds More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Case study of social accountability implementation of medical schools: case of 8 medical school in Korea

Medical schools realize their social accountability in cultivating future doctors as decision-makers of medical care in the future society as an axis of society and carrying out communication, research, and medical service (medical care). This study summarized the social accountability status of eight medical schools in Korea, including the characteristics, activities, and programs in the sociocultural context. The data from the self-evaluation research reports of eight medical schools were classified and organized according to education, research, and medical care services. The medical schools offer related subjects, community service activities, and clinical practice, allowing active participation in local health promotion and disease prevention. Community health information research was conducted considering the difference between the local natural environment in which the medical school is located and the frequency of diseases. Medical schools and hospitals collaborated to conduct domestic and foreign health education volunteer activities. Social accountability must be prioritized, considering the importance of medical schools’ functions and roles in a high knowledge-information society. Both doctors’ medical capacity and competence to actively participate in developing medical care and health policies for the community should be strengthened.

Exploring barriers and enablers of self-management behaviours in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A qualitative study from the perceptions of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in primary care.

Exploring barriers and enablers of self-management behaviours in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A qualitative study from the perceptions of patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals in primary care.

Approaches to the definition and essence of the health literacy concept

Introduction. Noncommunicable diseases represent a huge and growing global burden, posing serious challenges to health systems in both high-, low- and middle-income countries. One of the reasons is the low level of health literacy of the population, which does not ensure adequate health-saving behavior. The purpose of the study is to review the publications of non-Russian authors on the health literacy concept analysis.
 Materials and methods. The analysis of foreign publications was carried out using content analysis, the unit of which was "health literacy".
 Results. The study showed that the concept of health literacy and its content have been deeply studied in foreign literature. Health literacy includes the ability to read and understand health-related written text, communicate health information effectively, navigate the health care system, and achieve and maintain good health. Some Russian studies also reflect the level of health literacy of the population.
 For citation: Abubakirov AS, Zudin AB, Tsyganok RS. Approaches to the definition and essence of the health literacy concept. City Healthсare. 2023;4(1): 105-113. doi: 10.47619/2713-2617.zm.2023.v.4i1;105-113

Development of an evaluation framework for health information communication technology in contemporary pharmacy practice

BackgroundHealth information communication technology (ICT) has rapidly evolved in contemporary pharmacy practice worldwide. The Australian healthcare system is experiencing a paradigm shift to real-time interconnectivity for practitioners and consumers and interoperable digital health. With these developments come a need to evaluate use of technologies specifically in pharmacy practice to optimize their clinical functionality. There are no published frameworks for evaluating ICT needs or implementation in pharmacy practice. ObjectiveThis paper proposes a theoretical framework for evaluating health ICT in pharmacy. MethodsDevelopment of the evaluation framework was informed by a systematic scoping review and health informatics literature. Specifically, the framework drew upon critical appraisal and concept mapping of the TAM, ISS and HOT-fit validated models, with respect to health ICT in contemporary pharmacy practice. ResultsThe proposed model was named the Technology Evaluation Key (TEK). The TEK comprises of 10 domains; healthcare system, organization, practitioner, user interface, ICT, use, operational outcomes, system outcomes, clinical outcomes and timely access to care. ConclusionsThis is the first published proposed evaluation framework developed for health ICT specifically in contemporary pharmacy practice. TEK represents a pragmatic way to ensure the development, refinement and implementation of new and existing technologies in contemporary pharmacy practice to keep pace with the clinical and professional requirements of community pharmacists. Operational, clinical and system outcomes should be evaluated as coexisting factors that may impact implementation. Validation research utilizing Design Science Research Methodology will enhance utility for end users and ensure the relevance and application of the TEK to contemporary pharmacy practice.

Developing a Centralized Hub for Research Data Services: Trainings and Resources in Health Sciences Contexts.

In 2021, a new national center was funded by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to build capacity for providing data services within health sciences libraries by coordinating, developing, and disseminating trainings, curricular resources, and curated pathways for learning. Research data services has been a growing service component for health sciences libraries for over a decade, and efforts have come from individuals, professional societies, task forces, and interest groups; however, there is still a great deal of unrealized potential in this area as well as growing needs driven by new requirements from funders and publishers and increasing demand from institutions for data science skills and support for data-related research needs. The National Center for Data Services (NCDS) was established in July 2021 and is the newest of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM)'s national offices and centers. NCDS works with the NNLM's seven regional medical libraries and national offices and centers, and draws upon extensive connections with national data and library organizations, all toward the aim of developing capacity for data services in the health information community while centering efforts toward equity, diversity, and accessibility throughout.

Digital Technology in Community Engagement: Impacts and Implications.

Health professionals are increasingly using digital technology as a strategy to maximize community engagement and effectively implement health interventions, a phenomenon evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. While technology has improved health information dissemination, communication, and data management, it cannot replace the human-based interactions offered by traditional grassroots outreach that can influence long-term health behavior change, particularly for underserved communities. Digital community engagement can be part of the digital divide, often widening disparities by excluding those without access or limited access to technology. It may hinder the accurate collection of contextual and comprehensive data needed to analyze social determinants of health, thereby widening the equity gap. This commentary explores the challenges of using digital technology and justifies leveraging it to complement traditional community engagement rather than as a replacement.

Health information communication technology evaluation frameworks for pharmacist prescribing: A systematic scoping review.

Information communication technology (ICT) is instrumental in pharmacists' current practice and emerging roles. One such role is prescribing, which requires the use of clinical guidelines and documentation of decision-making, commonly via ICT. Development and refinement of ICT should be guided by evaluation frameworks that describe or measure features of ICT and its implementation. In the context of pharmacist prescribing, these evaluation frameworks should be specific to health stakeholders and the pharmacy setting. To identify ICT evaluation frameworks from health-related literature and review frameworks relevant to the development, implementation, and evaluation of pharmacist prescribing. A database search of CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline (Ovid), ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science and grey literature was conducted, using combinations of keywords relating to 'ICT', 'utilization', 'usability', and 'evaluation framework'. Abstracts and titles were screened according to inclusion criteria. Identified evaluation frameworks were critiqued for relevance to pharmacy practice. Twenty-two articles were identified, describing the development or application of 20 evaluation frameworks. None of the frameworks was developed specifically for pharmacy practice. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), describing use behavior, behavior intention, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use, was the most widely utilized framework. The Information System Success (ISS) and Human-Organization and Technology Fit (HOT-fit) are notable evaluation frameworks that address user and organizational influences in health ICT utility, and factors of both can address the limitation of TAM. The findings call for development of an agile evaluation framework for the system under review; however, this can prove difficult due to the heterogenicity and complexity of the healthcare system, particularly contemporary pharmacy practice. While the TAM appears useful to evaluate user attitudes and intentions towards ICT, its relevance to ICT in contemporary community pharmacy practice requires exploration.

Communicating COVID-19 Vaccine Information to Parents During Pandemic in Science City of Munoz, Philippines

Despite the existing communication strategies and health information available online during the COVID-19 outbreak, the general public has found that some parts of the world got the lowest COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates. Looking at the developmental dimension of communicating vaccine information, this paper gauges the underlying context and factors of the vaccine hesitation. This is to further assist the health information communicator to effectively craft strategies for public health. Interviews were administered as instruments of the study while the respondents were chosen through Simple Random Sampling. Thereafter, the data were analyzed by utilizing the Individual Differences Theory. As far as communication strategies are concerned, the Department of Health have found a high level of acceptance (47.2%) from the parent-respondents despite the vaccine hesitancy deeply rooted on the negative exposure to vaccine related to the dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia. Further, a significant relationship was established in the correlation between the use of social media and the age of the respondents (0.040*); poster and educational attainment (0.005**); poster and employment (0.018*); and seminar and educational attainment (0.011*), in communicating COVID-19 information. Following the framework for analysis, the exposure to COVID-19 vaccine messages leads to an attitude shift that changes the parent-respondents action towards the vaccination of their children. This study concludes that the exposure of parent-respondents to communication strategies and materials have been proven to be statistically significant factors and played a significant influence in the spread of COVID-19 vaccine information. Consequently, the use of social media as a source of information in rural communities was statistically low. This study inferred that there is a barrier in communicating health information for respondents who didn’t finish their studies and reside from rural areas whereas there is a lack of available communication materials with local context.

The Impact of Community Health Information Exchange Usage on Time to Reutilization of Hospital Services.

Few studies have determined whether clinician usage of a community health information exchange (HIE) directly improves patient care transitions. We hypothesized that lookup in the HIE by primary care physicians of patients recently released from the hospital would increase the time until hospital reuse. We identified a retrospective cohort of 8,216 hospital inpatients aged over 18 years that were discharged from January 1, 2021 through November 30, 2021 using the Paso del Norte Health Information Exchange, in El Paso County, Texas. All patients had a primary care physician visit within 30 days after hospital discharge, and we identified patients that were looked up in the HIE close to that visit. Of the cohort, 2,627 were rehospitalized and 3,809 visited an emergency department (ED) during the follow-up window. The remaining 1,780 patients were controls. We conducted survival analysis, censoring at the second ED or inpatient visit or end of the study window (January 31, 2022). The model was adjusted by ethnicity, gender, insurance, and age. Lookup in the HIE was significantly associated with reducing the likelihood of visiting the ED by 53% and being rehospitalized by 61%. Lookup in the HIE was associated with an increased median time to use of the ED after inpatient discharge from 99 to 238 patient days. Ethnicity, insurance, gender, and age were also significant predictors of hospital reuse. Increased utilization of community HIEs by primary care physicians on behalf of their recently discharged patients may dramatically increase the time until inpatient or ED reuse.

Examining Visual Communication in the Context of COVID-19 through Weibo Interactions

As China's biggest social media platform, Weibo has taken on essential health communication responsibilities during the pandemic. This research takes 105 posters in 15 health-related official Weibo accounts as the analysis objects to explore COVID-19 health information communication and visualisation. First, the interaction between the audiences and Weibo, including forwarding, comments and likes, is statistically analysed. The comments about the information design are extracted manually, and then the sentiment analysis is carried out to verdict audiences’ views about the poster's design. The forwarding and comments are quantified as the attention index for a reference to the degree of likes. In addition, this study also designed an evaluation scale based on the standards of Health Literacy Resources by the Centers for Medicare& Medicaid Services (US). Then designers scored all selected posters one by one. Finally, combining the data of the two parts, concluded that: 1. To a certain extent, people think that the posters do not deliver substantive and practical information; 2. Non-knowledge posters(i.e. cartoon posters) gained more Forwarding and Likes, such as Go, Wuhan poster; 3. The analysis of COVID posters is still mainly picture-oriented, mainly about encouraging people to overcome difficulties; 4. Posters for pandemic prevention usually contain more text and fewer illustrations and do not clearly show cultural differences. In conclusion, health communication usually involves a lot of professional knowledge, so visualising that knowledge in an accessible way for the general public is challenging. The relevant posters still have the problems of lack of effective communication, superficial design, and insufficient content accessibility.

Content Analysis of American Network News Coverage of Prevention Strategies During the Initial Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Broadcast media is a method to communicate health information to the general public and has previously been used in prior public health emergencies. Despite the current ubiquity of social media, traditional news programming retains relatively large audiences, which increased during the COVID-19 pandemic's early days. Viewership of broadcast media networks' evening news skews toward older groups (age 65 and up) which were vulnerable to health complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study explored the trends in American broadcast network news media coverage of prevention during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Quantitative content analysis using the Public Health Framework for Prevention was used to analyze three major US media networks' evening news content for thematic trends in COVID-19 coverage during the first US pandemic wave from March to May 2020. A total of 117 episodes of the evening news, 39 from each of the three major US media networks, evenly divided among the first 13 weeks of the pandemic in the US. Outcome variables included average seconds of coverage per episode devoted to prevention strategies, COVID-19 coverage not related to prevention, and non-COVID-19 coverage. The proportion of coverage dedicated to COVID-19 sharply increased in the first 2 weeks of March and decreased in the last 2 weeks of May. Networks focused approximately half the COVID-19 coverage time on prevention issues (288 seconds/episode) compared to non-prevention issues (538 seconds/episode). Prevention coverage varied over time. Although coverage included COVID-19 prevention content, more of the coverage was on other pandemic-related issues (e.g., economic impacts). Because public network news outlets have broad reach and accessibility, they could be an effective partner for public health agencies disseminating prevention messaging for current and future disease outbreaks and threats to public health.

A healthy liver will always deliver: development of a NAFLD awareness comic

Comics can be an effective tool to communicate health information and appeal to behavior change. The aim of this project, undertaken by a multidisciplinary team, was to develop a comic to raise awareness about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and promote healthy lifestyles regarding dietary practices and regular physical activity patterns. We focused on the ability of comics in portraying abstract concepts to articulate NAFLD biomedical knowledge and use it as an encouragement/empowerment strategy towards disease-related beliefs, attitudes, intentions and behaviors. Formative research by means of a NAFLD awareness study with T2DM patients informed the selection of biomedical content and the design of characters and storylines on which the former was embedded. Mindful of graphic narrative and storytelling as a valuable tool in the domains of health promotion, disease prevention and therapeutic adherence, this work discusses the decisions that were taken for the materialization of the comic ‘A healthy liver will always deliver!’.

Health Communication and Inequalities in Primary Care Access during the COVID-19 Pandemic among Ethnic Minorities in the United Kingdom: Lived Experiences and Recommendations.

Health Communication is critical in the context of public health and this was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethnic minority groups were significantly impacted during the pandemic; however, communication and information available to them were reported to be insufficient. This study explored the health information communication amongst ethnic communities in relation to their experiences with primary health care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research used qualitative methodology using focus groups and semi-structured interviews with community members and leaders from three ethnic minority communities (African-Caribbean, Somali and South Asian) in Leicester, United Kingdom. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and open-coded. Rigour was determined through methodological coherence, appropriate and sufficient sampling, and iterative data collection and analysis. Six focus groups and interviews were conducted with 42 participants. Four overarching themes were identified related to health communication, experiences, services and community recommendations to improve primary care communication. To address primary care inequalities effectively and improve future health communication strategies, experiences from the pandemic should be reflected upon, and positive initiatives infused into the healthcare strategies, especially for ethnic minority communities.

The case to improve technologies for pharmacists' prescribing.

Increased healthcare needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters have highlighted the value of community pharmacists in the efficient and effective delivery of health services. In Australia, legislative amendments have enabled pharmacists to extend the supply of certain prescription medicines to better address their community’s needs in emergency situations.[1] Authors have argued for longer term and broader expansion of nonmedical prescribing to maintain these efficiencies and enhance the public’s timely and equitable access to essential prescription medicines.[2] This Commentary argues that expanded and fully integrated pharmacist prescribing will require greater access to a range of health information communication technology (ICT) platforms to assist pharmacists’ clinical decision-making and to meet legal and ethical obligations in relation to clinical documentation. Specifically, we call for a tailored evaluation framework for health ICT to support contemporary pharmacy practice and prescribing roles of pharmacists.

Prevalence of and factors associated with limited health literacy in spine patients

Limited health literacy exacerbates health inequity and has serious implications for patient care. It hinders successful communication and comprehension of relevant health information, which can lead to suboptimal care. Despite the evidence regarding the significance of health literacy, the topic has received little consideration in orthopedic spine patients. To investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with limited health literacy among outpatients presenting to a tertiary urban academic hospital-based orthopedic spine center. Cross-sectionals. Patients 18 years of age or older seen at a tertiary urban academic hospital-based multi-surgeon outpatient spine center. The Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy assessment. Between December 2021 and March 2022, 447 consecutive English-speaking patients over the age of 18 years and new to the outpatient spine clinic were approached for participation in a cross-sectional survey study, of which 405 agreed to participate. Patients completed the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) health literacy assessment tool, the Rapid Estimation of Adult Literacy in Medicine Short Form (REALM-SF), and a sociodemographic survey (including race/ethnicity, level of education, employment status, income, and marital status). The NVS scores were divided into limited (0-3) and adequate (4-6) health literacy. REALM-SF scores were classified into reading levels below ninth grade (0-6) or at least ninth grade (7). Additional demographic data was extracted from patient records. Online mapping tools were used to collect the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI) for each patient. Subsequently, multivariable regression modeling was performed to identify independent factors associated with limited health literacy. The prevalence of limited health literacy in patients presenting to an urban academic outpatient spine center was 33% (135/405). Unadjusted analysis found that patients who were socioeconomically disadvantaged (eg, unemployed, lower household income, publicly insured and higher SVI) and had more unfavorable social determinant of health features (eg, housing concerns, higher ADI, less years of education, below ninth grade reading level, unmarried) had high rates of limited health literacy. Adjusted regression analysis demonstrated that limited health literacy was independently associated with higher ADI state decile, living less than 10 years at current address, having housing concerns, not being employed, non-native English speaking, having less years of education and below ninth grade reading level. This study found that a substantial portion of the patients presenting to an outpatient spine center have limited health literacy, more so if they are socially disadvantaged. Future efforts should investigate the impact of limited health literacy on access to care, treatment outcomes and health care utilization in orthopedic patients. Neighborhood social vulnerability measures may be a feasible way to identify patients at risk of limited health literacy in clinical practice and offer opportunities for tailored patient care. This may contribute to prioritizing the mitigation of disparities and aid in the development of meaningful interventions to improve health equity in orthopedics.

Emoji Education: How Students Can Help Increase Health Awareness by Making Emojis.

Emojis can improve health communication, especially when incorporating emojis into traditionally word-only texts. Beyond improving communication, emojis also offer greater access to health care, especially for vulnerable and marginalized populations with limited health literacy. A recent study found that 94% of patients with limited health literacy preferred health reports with emojis. Moreover, health officials are considering adding emojis to cardiopulmonary resuscitation guidelines and public health guidelines for handwashing. As the world evolves with new technology and new methods of communication, we must also evolve the language and method we use to communicate health information to patients. In this viewpoint, we aim to discuss the methods health care professionals can use to develop novel communication methods using emojis and the benefits of their incorporation into health care communication.

Mapping the Global Evolution and Research Directions of Information Seeking, Sharing and Communication in Disasters: A Bibliometric Study.

This paper aims to grasp developments and trends in research on information communication, information seeking and information sharing in disasters during 2000-2021. By using bibliometrics software CiteSpace and VOSviewer, the development trends of publications, disciplinary, journals, institutions and regional cooperation are mapped. Keyword co-occurrence analysis is used to further identify the evolution of the research hot points and visualize the research orientation and frontier. The results indicate that the field of information communication in disasters has received growing attention from various disciplines. Results of institutions and regional cooperation show that worldwide cooperation is still lacking and needs to be strengthened in future studies in this field. The key findings are five main research orientations in this field based on keyword co-occurrence, which are public information coordination research, public information behavior and perception research, health information communication research, risk communication and social media research and information technology in emergency management. The findings of this paper can be helpful for academics and emergency managers in disaster information management and risk communication by giving them a comprehensive understanding of people's information communication, seeking and sharing.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Response and Its Impact on Post-Corona Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management in Iran

This paper examines the COVID-19 pandemic response in Iran and offers speculations on the possible impact of its experience on the future response to other health emergencies and disaster risk management based on the lessons learned. The COVID-19 experience in Iran is unique in several aspects, including the significant role played by the healthcare workers’ sharing and exchange of information through Internet-based networking applications, and a sociocultural environment that was weakening public trust and cooperation in the use of preventive strategies such as less than the optimum wearing of face masks and attending large social gatherings. There was also hesitation in receiving the necessary vaccine doses due to public skepticism over the effectiveness of domestic COVID-19 vaccines. Furthermore, healthcare workers and health services were afflicted with a lack of sufficient manpower and material resources to fight the pandemic. Moreover, a strong and mostly negative influence of political agenda and religious influence on preventive health policies, especially an initial governmental ban on the import and use of Western vaccines and the pressure to hold religious festivals during the outbreaks, were prevalent. The lessons that can be learned from this ongoing crisis include the value of independent healthcare information networks, transparency in the communication of health information to the public to get their trust and cooperation, and an emphasis on the separation of health policies from political and religious interference.