Infectious disease outbreaks demand rapid, thorough, and innovative response teams working collaboratively and using multiple channels of communication to decrease the impact and duration of the outbreak.Reference Kateh, Nagbe and Kieta 1 In ensuing paragraphs we use the 2014 Ebola outbreak response as a case study to demonstrate interprofessional collaborative practice in action and to highlight opportunities for the future integration of evidence-based interprofessional communication practices in applied global public health emergency response.
The transmission of clear, accurate, and credible information is paramount in emergency response and disaster management. Communication practices that discourage jargon and discipline-specific terminology and that exploit multiple communication channels result in more effective information sharing. When used in conjunction with other evidence-based strategies such as transparency and trust building, the resulting outcome is enhanced communication among response team members and the affected communities.
The Ebola response in West Africa provided some examples of best emergency response communication practices that are worth highlighting. In July 2014, Liberia in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reconfigured their incidence management system (IMS) to effectively delineate a chain of command and organizational structure to enhance communication and coordination among local, national, and international stakeholders in the operational response to the epidemic.Reference Pillai, Nyenswah and Rouse 2 In Nigeria, health care providers and other Ebola response team members used CliniPAK, a mobile tool, to discuss case records and track the spread of the disease.Reference West 3 Evidence from the field also highlighted the potential impact of social media platforms on the Ebola response. The Twitter campaign @EbolaAlert, for example, was instrumental in information dissemination during the Ebola outbreak in Nigeria.Reference Carter 4
The effectiveness of communication tools, like CliniPAK and other mobile health (mHealth) communication technology, depends on their capacity to transmit salient information between multiple actors in a timely manner. However, the feasibility of using such technologies in public health disaster response depends on whether the necessary infrastructures are in place to facilitate their use. In developing parts of the world, where the infrastructural makeup of emergency response systems and the health care systems are less sophisticated, the use of low-tech communication channels such as face-to-face meetings and workshops, the use of trusted messengers, leaflets, brochures, or hotlines have been shown to be efficacious.
Effective communication between interprofessional teams is enhanced when working relationships are cordial and are characterized by respect and trust. Interprofessional emergency response teams function at optimal levels when the team embraces and capitalizes on each member’s experience and knowledge.Reference Pfeifle and Earnest 5 By embracing various cultural beliefs and attempting to understand the language barriers and cultural differences, the team builds a stronger foundation to improve team functioning and facilitate the achievement of shared goals.
The Ebola response efforts provide an opportunity to evaluate intra-team and inter-team communication during disaster response and to initiate a discourse on ways to improve and facilitate communication and coordination among multiple stakeholders, spanning several countries and sectors. Examples of successful communication efforts during emergency responses should continue to be identified in the literature and referenced in training materials for preparedness planning.
