Decision Support Frameworks in Public Health Emergencies: A Systematic Review of Dynamic Models in Complex Contexts

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy and Management
• Disaster Risk Management

Background:

• Public health emergencies (PHE) demand coordinated governmental and societal actions due to their profound health, economic, and social impacts.
• Existing decision support frameworks (DSF) in PHE management require analysis to identify scopes, applications, challenges, and gaps.
• The Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) Framework and the Preparedness, Prevention, Response, and Recovery (PPRR) Model provide a basis for evaluating current DSF.

Approach:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed.
• Studies published between 2016 and 2023 were analyzed, with thirty-six articles selected.
• The review focused on evaluating DSF within the context of PHE management.

Key Points:

• Current DSF predominantly concentrate on short-term emergency response operations.
• There is a limited emphasis on the political and strategic components that define actors and responsibilities in PHE management.
• Frameworks for monitoring, evaluation, and information management are prioritized in current models.

Conclusions:

• DSF need to evolve to overcome challenges in multisectoral and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Addressing diverse decision-making levels and actors is crucial for effective PHE management.
• Developing common evidence platforms and improving data sharing are essential for creating adaptable DSF for various emergencies.