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Challenges encountered in comparing international policy responses to COVID-19 and their effects
- Source :
- Health Research Policy and Systems, Health Research Policy and Systems, Vol 19, Iss 1, Pp 1-11 (2021)
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- BioMed Central, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Background A variety of policies have been implemented around the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study originally aimed to identify and compare policy responses of different countries and their effects on the pandemic. It quickly evolved into an identification of the heterogeneity among existing policies and the challenges in making meaningful comparisons of the impact of these policies. Methods The process of collecting and comparing data from different sources was analysed through inductive thematic analysis to understand the obstacles that impede research designed to compare COVID-19 data and related policies. Results We identified the following obstacles: (1) no single reputable source of information and too much noise; (2) a lack of standards for how to measure and report data across countries; (3) variations in the content, implementation and enforcement of policies; and (4) politics, instead of science, leading the efforts in pandemic management. Conclusion Heterogeneity in existing policies makes it challenging to compare the effects of various policies worldwide on the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings call for an automatically updated informatics infrastructure across the globe for collecting and maintaining standardized data from multiple sources. There is a strong need for steadfast utilization of scientific and technical experts to inform and influence health policy. Increased investment in public health and emergency planning is essential to overcome the current pandemic, as well as future public health emergencies. Focused leadership and collaboration from world leaders in a unified mission to decrease the mortality and morbidity of the COVID-19 pandemic is imperative.
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
business.industry
Public policy
SARS-CoV-2
Public health
Research
Health Policy
Health services research
COVID-19
Public relations
Variety (cybernetics)
Health administration
Coronavirus
Pandemic
medicine
Humans
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Thematic analysis
business
Pandemics
Health policy
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14784505
- Volume :
- 19
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Health Research Policy and Systems
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....40c90883eeec3d038abf5d8af1ea2df1