Community Response to SARS in Hong Kong

Chan, Charles C.; Chan, Kevin; Chow, Clifton

doi:10.1080/21650993.2004.9755944

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In the past, positive unintended consequences of the SARS outbreaks included increased social cohesion among certain groups (e.g. displays of respect for infected professionals, donations for orphans, fund-raising concerts, neighbourhood-initiated cleaning campaigns) [91]. SARS outbreaks also promoted support for family members as well as healthy behaviours such as resting and exercising [92,93].…”

Section: Focus On Desirable Undesirable and Even Neutral Unintendedmentioning

confidence: 99%

The unintended consequences of COVID-19 mitigation measures matter: practical guidance for investigating them

Turcotte-Tremblay

Gali

Ridde

2021

BMC Med Res Methodol

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Background COVID-19 has led to the adoption of unprecedented mitigation measures which could trigger many unintended consequences. These unintended consequences can be far-reaching and just as important as the intended ones. The World Health Organization identified the assessment of unintended consequences of COVID-19 mitigation measures as a top priority. Thus far, however, their systematic assessment has been neglected due to the inattention of researchers as well as the lack of training and practical tools. Main text Over six years our team has gained extensive experience conducting research on the unintended consequences of complex health interventions. Through a reflexive process, we developed insights that can be useful for researchers in this area. Our analysis is based on key literature and lessons learned reflexively in conducting multi-site and multi-method studies on unintended consequences. Here we present practical guidance for researchers wishing to assess the unintended consequences of COVID-19 mitigation measures. To ensure resource allocation, protocols should include research questions regarding unintended consequences at the outset. Social science theories and frameworks are available to help assess unintended consequences. To determine which changes are unintended, researchers must first understand the intervention theory. To facilitate data collection, researchers can begin by forecasting potential unintended consequences through literature reviews and discussions with stakeholders. Including desirable and neutral unintended consequences in the scope of study can help minimize the negative bias reported in the literature. Exploratory methods can be powerful tools to capture data on the unintended consequences that were unforeseen by researchers. We recommend researchers cast a wide net by inquiring about different aspects of the mitigation measures. Some unintended consequences may only be observable in subsequent years, so longitudinal approaches may be useful. An equity lens is necessary to assess how mitigation measures may unintentionally increase disparities. Finally, stakeholders can help validate the classification of consequences as intended or unintended. Conclusion Studying the unintended consequences of COVID-19 mitigation measures is not only possible but also necessary to assess their overall value. The practical guidance presented will help program planners and evaluators gain a more comprehensive understanding of unintended consequences to refine mitigation measures.

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Section: Focus On Desirable Undesirable and Even Neutral Unintendedmentioning

confidence: 99%

The unintended consequences of COVID-19 mitigation measures matter: practical guidance for investigating them

Turcotte-Tremblay

Gali

Ridde

2021

BMC Med Res Methodol

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“…The specific roles that social workers can play during pandemics can be traced back to the “Spanish Flu” in 1918 ( Rosoff, 2008 ) and more recently to the SARS ( Rowlands, 2007 ), H1N1 ( Siu, 2012 ), and MERS pandemics ( Park and Lee, 2016 ). However, no theoretical frameworks have been specifically developed to examine the roles that social workers play during pandemics ( Chan et al., 2004 ; Cheung, 2020 ; Rowlands, 2007 ). In the health services sector, social work has long been influenced by the bio-medical model.…”

Section: Practicing Social Work During Pandemicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Safeguarding health equality for the disadvantaged during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned for the social work profession

Kwan

Ling²,

Cheung³

et al. 2020

Qualitative Social Work

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An evaluation of the role played by the social work profession during the outbreak of COVID-19 is necessary. Although social workers have made efforts to address people’s needs during the pandemic, it is worth examining the role they have played in safeguarding health equality. Focusing on the case of Hong Kong, we found that the profession was generally ill-prepared for the outbreak, and in particular, for confronting the attendant social inequalities. We identified three possible reasons for these findings: 1) non-governmental organizations were caught off-guard by the outbreak, 2) there was no clearly articulated intervention agenda to inform practitioners of the roles they should play in such a large-scale crisis, and 3) having become more formalized and standardized, social work services may have become less flexible in responding to emerging community needs. We conclude this article by suggesting three directions that could allow the profession to better pursue its mission during large-scale crises.

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“…Some recent publications look towards improvements in institutional channels to combat future diseases. See the articles by Sze and Ting (2004) and Chan, Chan, and Chow (2004).…”

Section: Notesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sars

Davis¹,

Siu²

2006

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In the spring of 2003 SARS prompted the first global health alert of the twenty-first century. Hardest hit were the three metropole cities of Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taipei where residents confronted not only threats to their health and material well-being, but also to the vitality and resilience of their societies. Patients with a virus that resisted known therapies overwhelmed hospitals and frontline medical workers and as the disease unpredictably spread to communities and inflicted fatalities, collective trauma mounted. Quarantine practices of medieval Europe ultimately halted the outbreak.Multidisciplinary in its approach, SARS explores the medical, social, and political challenges posed by the epidemic. Focusing on the political dimensions of historical geography, media communications, and popular culture, the case studies chronicle how residents of the three cities, whose fortunes are linked by uneasy historical memories and a vibrant global economy, find themselves abruptly drawing hard lines against porous borders. The volume raises issues pertaining to global politics and regional security, public health and democratic processes, civil society and public culture formation, the role of media in social crises, institutional integrity, and individual agency.Contributors drawn from anthropology, journalism, medicine, and sociology examine the SARS outbreak as representative of the multiple contradictions among contagion, connectivity, and disjuncture that characterize our contemporary world. With avian flu looming over the horizon, the volume focuses attention on diverse human responses, critical self-reflection, and possible steps to meet future challenges.

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Community Response to SARS in Hong Kong

Cited by 6 publications

References 18 publications

The unintended consequences of COVID-19 mitigation measures matter: practical guidance for investigating them

The unintended consequences of COVID-19 mitigation measures matter: practical guidance for investigating them

Safeguarding health equality for the disadvantaged during the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned for the social work profession

Sars

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