Quality of internet-based public health strategies to Prevent Infectious Diseases in Germany
1
Public Health, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A884
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Important aspects of infectious disease prevention include vaccination campaigns and public health strategies promoting preventive behaviors. The objective is to examine the completeness, accessibility and accuracy of the information available by public health authorities and the communication strategies employed.
METHODS:
A mixed-methods explanatory design was applied to evaluate communication strategies for infectious disease prevention in the public health services of the German state of Baden-Württemberg (BW) from September 2021 to September 2022. We assessed the information quality across six disease groups, covering the three dimensions of 1) comprehensiveness, 2) accessibility and 3) accuracy, yielding a disease information quality score for each website of the 38 Public Health Authorities (PHAs) in BW. The same dimensions were utilized to calculate an information quality score regarding preventive behavior and communication . We used thresholds at 25% and 75% to classify low, intermediate, and high quality of information. In addition, six qualitative interviews were conducted with six representatives of the public health service.
RESULTS:
Out of 38 counties, we identified 8 (21.1 %) with high, 26 (68.4 %) with intermediate and 4 (10.5 %) with low quality of available information . The highest quality information score varied between 315-420 points (maximum 420 points). Intermediate quality of information varies between 106-315 points (26 counties). Low quality of information was attained with scores between 0-150 points for 4 counties. Low vaccination uptake in certain communities was identified by PHAs using epidemiological indicators, however, effectively reaching vulnerable groups remained difficult. Engagement of health insurers, municipalities, healthcare providers, and NGOs was vital for preventions implementation.
CONCLUSIONS:
The heterogeneity of information quality between PHAs has impeded the development of coherent evidence-based strategies, undermining the effectiveness of prevention efforts. Joint communication strategies should be applied to achieve consistency in quality of information for all PHA .
Important aspects of infectious disease prevention include vaccination campaigns and public health strategies promoting preventive behaviors. The objective is to examine the completeness, accessibility and accuracy of the information available by public health authorities and the communication strategies employed.
METHODS:
A mixed-methods explanatory design was applied to evaluate communication strategies for infectious disease prevention in the public health services of the German state of Baden-Württemberg (BW) from September 2021 to September 2022. We assessed the information quality across six disease groups, covering the three dimensions of 1) comprehensiveness, 2) accessibility and 3) accuracy, yielding a disease information quality score for each website of the 38 Public Health Authorities (PHAs) in BW. The same dimensions were utilized to calculate an information quality score regarding preventive behavior and communication . We used thresholds at 25% and 75% to classify low, intermediate, and high quality of information. In addition, six qualitative interviews were conducted with six representatives of the public health service.
RESULTS:
Out of 38 counties, we identified 8 (21.1 %) with high, 26 (68.4 %) with intermediate and 4 (10.5 %) with low quality of available information . The highest quality information score varied between 315-420 points (maximum 420 points). Intermediate quality of information varies between 106-315 points (26 counties). Low quality of information was attained with scores between 0-150 points for 4 counties. Low vaccination uptake in certain communities was identified by PHAs using epidemiological indicators, however, effectively reaching vulnerable groups remained difficult. Engagement of health insurers, municipalities, healthcare providers, and NGOs was vital for preventions implementation.
CONCLUSIONS:
The heterogeneity of information quality between PHAs has impeded the development of coherent evidence-based strategies, undermining the effectiveness of prevention efforts. Joint communication strategies should be applied to achieve consistency in quality of information for all PHA .
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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