Date of Conferral
5-22-2024
Date of Award
May 2024
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Public Policy and Administration
Advisor
Dr. Julian Muhammad
Abstract
Effectively managing communication after a crisis is the starting point of successful public policy and administration when handling a public health crisis. Jamaica has dealt with several public health crises over the span of its existence; this study compared SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and influenza, two major Jamaican public health crises during the period from 2019 to 2022. This study’s research questions addressed (a) what specific communication strategies were used by Jamaica during the influenza outbreak as compared to the COVID-19 pandemic and (b) how the specific communications strategies used during the influenza outbreak and COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the development of best practices for public health crisis communications that have universal application. Governmental documents were used as the source of data collection. One outcome of this qualitative study was identification of the need for a country to use a universal crisis communication policy that assists public administrators in effectively communicating during and after a crisis. The theoretical framework used for this study was phenomenography, which assisted in defining the importance of crisis management protocols that are properly communicated for the country of Jamaica. There is currently no set standard for best practices when implementing a universal communication policy for crisis operations in Jamaica. This knowledge in the field of risk management will help Jamaica achieve positive social change.
Recommended Citation
Wilson, Jehan Donnique, "Effectively Managing Communication After a Crisis: A Phenomenographic Study on Public Health Crises in the Country of Jamaica" (2024). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15815.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15815
