Evidence-based evaluation and optimization paths of public health emergency response plans in China: a text analysis...

To systematically analyze the structural shortcomings and emergency efficiency constraints of public health emergency response plans in China, explore evidence-based optimization paths, and provide a reference for improving the scientific level of emergency management systems.

Text coding technology was used to parse national and 31 provincial-level plans, constructing a three-dimensional evaluation framework of "structural integrity-implementation effectiveness-regional characteristics." A multiple linear regression model (n = 31) was employed to quantify the correlation between plan features (e.g., diversity of monitoring channels, clarity of responsibilities, and regional characteristics) and emergency efficiency indicators (e.g., response speed, disposal effectiveness, and recovery efficiency). Institutional gaps were identified through international comparisons.

The structural similarity of provincial plans reached 82.3%, but the coverage rate of responsibility lists was only 38.7%, the proportion of social monitoring channels was 15.3%, and the average regional characteristic index was 2.1 (out of 5 points). Regression analysis showed that: (1) Each additional type of monitoring channel shortened the emergency response time by 2.34 h (β = -2.34, p < 0.01); (2) Each 100-character increase in responsibility clauses reduced the daily growth rate of new cases during the epidemic peak by 0.18% (β = -0.18, p < 0.05); (3) Each 1-point increase in the regional characteristic index improved the 30-day post-disaster resumption rate by 4.56% (β = 4.56, p < 0.01). International comparisons revealed significant gaps in China regarding the institutionalization of social participation (average international social monitoring proportion exceeds 40%) and dynamic revision mechanisms (most countries conduct evaluations and revisions every 2 years).

China's emergency response plans need to establish a "digital empowerment + legal guarantee" collaborative mechanism, a multi-stakeholder monitoring network, and a hierarchical dynamic revision model to strengthen responsibility clarity and regional adaptability, thereby comprehensively improving the efficiency of the entire emergency management process.