Communication Strategies in Public Health Disasters

Public health disasters, ranging from pandemics to natural disasters, pose multifaceted challenges that demand dynamic and nuanced communication approaches. Communication strategies play a pivotal role in effectively managing such disasters, influencing public perception, adherence to guidelines, and overall outcomes.

This Research Topic seeks to address the gaps in understanding the role of communication in public health disasters. By examining evidence-based communication strategies, we aim to identify best practices and interdisciplinary strategies for improving communication effectiveness in crises and consequently enhance public understanding, trust, and adherence to recommendations during public health emergencies. Ultimately, the Research Topic seeks to provide actionable insights for policymakers, public health officials, and disaster response teams to improve communication efficiency in future crises.

We invite researchers, scholars, practitioners, and policymakers from diverse disciplines to contribute Original Research, Review, Community Case Study, and Perspective manuscripts addressing various aspects of communication strategies in public health disasters. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• crisis communication planning and preparedness
• risk communication and perception during disasters
• role of traditional and social media in disseminating information
• communication strategies for vulnerable populations
• crisis communication ethics and principles
• interdisciplinary approaches to communication in public health emergencies
• impact of misinformation and disinformation on public health messaging
• evaluation and assessment of communication interventions
• lessons learned and best practices from past public health disasters
• the role of AI in disaster communication and preparedness.

We encourage submissions that offer theoretical insights, empirical evidence, practical implications, and innovative approaches to communication in the context of public health emergencies. Contributions may draw from disciplines such as communication studies, public health, psychology, sociology, anthropology, epidemiology, and disaster and emergency management.

Keywords: crisis communication, public health, disasters, risk communication, information dissemination

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.