Exploring the dimensions of success in health crisis management: An exploratory qualitative study in Guinea

The management of health crises entails a comprehensive spectrum of actions, spanning from prevention and preparedness planning, through resource allocation, communication strategies, stakeholder coordination, community involvement, intervention implementation, and culminating in recovery and rehabilitation phases, with additional complexities in developing countries. This article aims to explore the concept of success in health crisis management by conducting a literature review and analyzing qualitative data collected in Guinea in 2022. The study seeks to identify key dimensions that contribute to the comprehensive evaluation of success in health crisis response and recovery. The research design employed for this study is a qualitative approach, specifically utilizing semi-structured interviews with international, national, and local stakeholders involved in health crisis management in Guinea. Effective crisis management is crucial for public health but lacks comprehensive research identifying key success factors. This gap limits evidence-based guidelines for crisis preparedness, response, and recovery. While some literature covers aspects like timely actions and resource mobilization, detailed studies on success conditions are rare. More empirical research is needed to guide policymakers and healthcare professionals in developing robust health crisis management frameworks. The study underscores the multifaceted nature of successful health crisis management, emphasizing elements like timeliness, resource mobilization, transparent communication, socio-economic impacts mitigation, experiential learning, governance integration, community engagement, and interdisciplinary coordination. Ultimately, robust and resilient health systems are essential for effectively managing health crises, as they enable rapid disease surveillance, efficient resource allocation, and timely delivery of medical interventions to mitigate the spread and impact of outbreaks.