ABSTRACT

Accessing healthcare during a disaster matters for the well-being of people and communities. This article explores healthcare messaging about General Practitioner (GP) services for non-COVID-19 health concerns during the Level 4 lockdown in Te Papaioea (Palmerston North), Aotearoa New Zealand. Messaging from Government, media and local GP clinics were analysed to understand how people were advised to seek care for non-COVID-19 health concerns. We found inconsistencies in these communications, ranging from messages to not attend healthcare services because of possible COVID-19 surges, to messages with vague, or lack of, information. Government messages did include advice for seeking general healthcare, but this was largely rendered invisible due to the focus on ‘staying home, saving lives’. Media messaging was similarly influenced by these Government directives. Few GP clinics had websites, and few provided information about accessing general healthcare services. Clinics also lacked up-to-date telephone messages about seeking healthcare for non-COVID-19 symptoms and illnesses. All three sources neglected the cultural, social and contextual diversity of the local audience. We recommend that communication during disasters should be clear, concise and consistent. Further, GPs should be supported to have websites and telecommunication platforms. All communications should be inclusive and aim to reach diverse audiences.

摘要

在灾难期间获得医疗保健对人们和社区的福祉至关重要。本文探讨了新西兰 Aotearoa 的 Te Papaioea（北帕默斯顿）在 4 级封锁期间针对非 COVID-19 健康问题的全科医生 (GP) 服务的医疗保健信息。分析了来自政府、媒体和当地全科医生诊所的消息，以了解如何建议人们就非 COVID-19 健康问题寻求护理。我们发现这些通信中存在不一致之处，从因可能出现 COVID-19 激增而导致不参加医疗保健服务的消息，到信息含糊或缺乏信息的消息。政府信息确实包括寻求一般医疗保健的建议，但由于专注于“待在家里，挽救生命”，这在很大程度上被掩盖了。媒体信息同样受到这些政府指令的影响。很少有全科医生诊所有网站，也很少提供有关获得一般医疗保健服务的信息。诊所还缺乏关于为非 COVID-19 症状和疾病寻求医疗保健的最新电话信息。这三个来源都忽视了当地受众的文化、社会和背景多样性。我们建议灾难期间的沟通应该清晰、简洁和一致。此外，应支持全科医生拥有网站和电信平台。所有沟通都应具有包容性，旨在覆盖不同的受众。诊所还缺乏关于为非 COVID-19 症状和疾病寻求医疗保健的最新电话信息。这三个来源都忽视了当地受众的文化、社会和背景多样性。我们建议灾难期间的沟通应该清晰、简洁和一致。此外，应支持全科医生拥有网站和电信平台。所有沟通都应具有包容性，旨在覆盖不同的受众。诊所还缺乏关于为非 COVID-19 症状和疾病寻求医疗保健的最新电话信息。这三个来源都忽视了当地受众的文化、社会和背景多样性。我们建议灾难期间的沟通应该清晰、简洁和一致。此外，应支持全科医生拥有网站和电信平台。所有沟通都应具有包容性，旨在覆盖不同的受众。