The impossibility problem: When public health policies require what structural conditions prevent

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated non-pharmacological interventions, including the concept of social "bubbles."
• Public health guidelines on bubbles lacked clarity, causing widespread confusion and inconsistent implementation.
• Understanding public sense-making and adherence to these guidelines is crucial for effective crisis communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how individuals in British Columbia understood and enacted the concept of social bubbles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify the factors influencing public interpretation and application of "bubbling" guidelines.
• To analyze the gap between conceptual understanding and practical implementation of social bubbles.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 39 semi-structured qualitative interviews with participants in British Columbia, Canada.
• Data collected between October and December 2020.
• Qualitative analysis to understand lived experiences and sense-making processes.

Main Results:

• Public understanding of "bubbles" was shaped by situated trust and the need for compensatory strategies amidst uncertainty.
• A significant disconnect was observed between the conceptual understanding of bubbles and their practical enactment.
• Ambiguity in guidelines led individuals to develop personalized interpretations and implementation methods.

Conclusions:

• Public health messaging regarding social bubbles requires greater clarity and consistency to ensure effective public adherence.
• Situational trust and adaptive strategies played a key role in navigating ambiguous pandemic guidelines.
• Future interventions should consider the practical challenges and diverse interpretations of public health directives.