What does this research mean for the field?

Effective risk communication during public health emergencies is a transversal function that currently suffers from high-income context bias, a lack of transparency regarding uncertainty, and insufficient systematic evaluation. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To synthesize evidence on risk communication frameworks, analyze lessons from recent infectious disease outbreaks, and identify persistent operational challenges during public health crises.

September 5, 2026International Journal of Emergency MedicineOpen Access

Risk communication strategies during public health emergencies: a narrative review of frameworks, recent crises, and emerging challenges

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To synthesize evidence on risk communication frameworks, analyze lessons from recent infectious disease outbreaks, and identify persistent operational challenges during public health crises.
Conducted a narrative review synthesizing literature from MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, and major public health agency grey literature published between 2018 and 2026.
Structured analysis across three thematic axes: comparing established frameworks, drawing lessons from crises (COVID-19, mpox, and 2026 Bundibugyo Ebola), and examining persistent systemic barriers.
Existing emergency risk communication frameworks remain disproportionately tailored to high-income settings, frequently prioritizing institutional authority over transparent disclosure of scientific uncertainty.
Persistent operational challenges continue to undermine messaging efficacy, including infodemic management, eroding institutional trust, inequities in information reach, and a lack of systematic outcome evaluations.

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Implication

Narrative review reveals persistent systemic deficits in crisis risk communication frameworks during public health emergencies, highlighting the urgent need for equity and transparency.

Cite This Study

Merlini et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9bd4346b95aff0620ebba0 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-026-01357-0

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Implication

Narrative review reveals persistent systemic deficits in crisis risk communication frameworks during public health emergencies, highlighting the urgent need for equity and transparency.

Risk communication strategies during public health emergencies: a narrative review of frameworks, recent crises, and emerging challenges

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Risk communication strategies during public health emergencies: a narrative review of frameworks, recent crises, and emerging challenges

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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