Date on Master's Thesis/Doctoral Dissertation

8-2024

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph. D.

Department

Health Management and Systems Sciences

Degree Program

Public Health Sciences with a specialization in Health Management, PhD

Committee Chair

Creel, Liza

Committee Co-Chair (if applicable)

Karimi, Syed

Committee Member

Johnson, Christopher E

Committee Member

Omer, Linda

Author's Keywords

COVID-19; equity; disparities; stakeholders; social determinants; emergency preparedness and response

Abstract

This study utilized a multi-method study approach to assess the effectiveness of the Essential Needs Program (ENP), aimed at aiding priority groups in successfully completing isolation or quarantine (I/Q) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It commences with an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic's history and the role of ENP as a local emergency response strategy to mitigate community spread. Chaos and systems theories were employed to comprehensively understand disaster phenomena and factors influencing individual adoption of protective measures during the pandemic. Additionally, institutional decision-making models and implementation science were utilized to elucidate how public health stakeholders coordinated ENP services provision and its overall impact on public health. By gathering direct input from consumers and stakeholders, the study provides insights into various aspects of the program, including reach, effectiveness, adoption and implementation factors, and sustainability, while establishing a foundation for a comprehensive and equitable preparedness agenda for Jefferson County, KY. The dissertation consists of five chapters, covering history, theory, research design, findings, and lessons learned. Chapter one explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Jefferson County, KY, analyzing COVID-19 case trends and local emergency response strategies such as ENP to facilitate successful I/Q completion for residents. Chapter two reviews existing literature on the effectiveness of COVID-19 response measures and potential policies to enhance community health in the long term. Chapter three delves into the conceptual frameworks guiding the multi-methods research strategy and details the operationalization of the data collection process used to examine how ENP services influenced adherence to I/Q guidelines among Jefferson County residents. Moreover, chapter three offers’ insights into the researchers' positionality and addresses limitations to guide future research directions. Chapter four presents a comprehensive analysis of the collected data during the study period, shedding light on the nuanced relationship between the usefulness of ENP services, population characteristics, and preparedness behaviors. Finally, chapter five provides a deeper exploration of evaluation findings and offers recommendations for orchestrating effective preparedness infrastructure for future public health emergencies.

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