Publication date: Jan 07, 2025

Our study investigates the efforts of local medical health officers during COVID-19 in Canada, with a focus on explicating enabling factors and barriers to effectively respond through local public health efforts. We conducted 26 semi-structured interviews with local-level public health leadership from across Canada and analyzed the transcripts for salient facilitators and barriers to effective local public health practice using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Effective local-level public health practice was facilitated by efforts that potentiated synergistic efforts inside and outside of the public health sector, including trust, buy-in, and ample resources. Barriers to effective practice involved uncertainty associated with governance, human resources, and the complexity of the pandemic itself. Sustained coordinated efforts across organizations together with clear governance mandates are required for robust local emergency management.

Semantics

Original Article