Proceedings from a multidisciplinary workshop defining the scope of Resilience Informatics in Public Health (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND In recent years, public health has confronted two formidable challenges: the devastating COVID-19 pandemic and the enduring threat of climate change. The convergence of these crises underscores the urgent need for resilient solutions. Resilience Informatics (RI), an emerging discipline at the intersection of informatics and public health, offers promising avenues for mitigating and adapting to these challenges. Addressing critical questions regarding target audiences, privacy concerns, and scalability is paramount to fostering resilience in the face of evolving health threats. OBJECTIVE The University of Arizona's workshop on Resilience Informatics in Public Health was held in November 2023 to serve as a pivotal forum for advancing these discussions and catalyzing collaborative efforts within the field. METHODS A purposive sampling strategy was employed to invite 40 experts by email from diverse fields including public health, medicine, weather, informatics, environmental science, and resilience to participate in the workshop. The event featured presentations from key experts followed by group discussions facilitated by experts to ensure diversity in backgrounds. Attendees engaged in collaborative reflection and discussion on predetermined questions. Discussions were systematically recorded by University of Arizona students, and qualitative analysis was conducted. A rapid analysis of workshop notes was initially performed, followed by a more comprehensive qualitative thematic analysis. A codebook was developed iteratively, all transcripts and notes used from the workshop were coded twice using MAXQDA software. Discrepancies in coding were resolved through discussion, leading to a narrative synthesis of findings. RESULTS The workshop hosted 27 attendees at the University of Arizona, predominantly from academia, with 21 participants from public health-related fields and 8 experts in resilience. Additionally, participants from governmental agencies, Native American groups, weather services, and mHealth organizations attended. Qualitative analysis identified major themes, including the potential of resilience informatics (RI) tools, threats to resilience (e.g., healthcare access, infrastructure, climate change), challenges with RI tools (e.g., usability, funding, real-time response), and standards for RI tools (e.g., technological, logistical, sociological). Attendees emphasized the importance of equitable access, community engagement, and iterative development in RI projects. CONCLUSIONS The RI workshop emphasized the necessity for accessible, user-friendly tools bridging technical knowledge and community needs. Future directions include focused discussions to yield concrete outputs like implementation guidelines and tool designs, prioritizing community engagement, cultural sensitivity, and ongoing learning. CLINICALTRIAL N/A