Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40761748›Full record

ReviewHealth policy OPEN2025

The influence of public health organization on response to the COVID-19 pandemic in four Canadian provinces: A comparative qualitative analysis.

Susan Usher, Sara Allin, Lara Gautier, Katherine Fierlbeck, Veena Sriram, Aidan Bodner, Camille Trapé, Leah Shipton, Alessia Montecalvo, Peter Berman

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Health policy OPEN, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Susan UsherDept of Equity, Ethics and Policy, McGill University, Canada.
Sara AllinNorth American Observatory of Health Systems and Policies, USA.
Lara GautierDepartment of Health Management, Policy and Evaluation, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Katherine FierlbeckDepartment of Political Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada.
Veena SriramSchool of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Aidan BodnerNorth American Observatory of Health Systems and Policies, USA.
Camille TrapéCentre de recherche en santé publique, Université de Montréal & CIUSSS South-Central Montreal, Montréal, Canada.
Leah ShiptonSchool of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Canada.
Alessia MontecalvoSchool of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Peter BermanSchool of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Studies of COVID-19 pandemic responses reveal shortcomings that may relate to the organization of public health systems. Objective: This study uncovers the organizational factors that may strengthen pandemic responses in high-income countries through a comparative analysis of four Canadian provinces. Methods: We undertook a qualitative multiple case study, collecting data through document review and 103 interviews with government and non-governmental actors involved in pandemic response. Analysis explored how differences in the organization of provincial public health systems influenced decision-making, advisory, coordination and adaptation processes. Results: The scale of the pandemic positioned the Premier as legitimate decision-maker in all provinces regardless of the distribution of authority in their public health systems. Capacity for generating public health advice was increased through existing or new organizations and highlighted the advantage of links to university expertise. All public health systems relied on healthcare resources for testing programs despite differences in the integration of public health under healthcare governance structures; centralization of healthcare governance was a facilitator. Adapting pandemic control measures to population needs was supported by linkages between organizations capable of apprehending needs and organizations that made decisions. Conclusions: This study builds on the literature of pandemic responses across high-income countries and uncovers organizational factors that may enhance agility to rapidly expand capacities, connect actors for emergency responses, and strengthen public health systems.

Indexed as

CanadaComparative case studyCOVID-19OrganizationPandemic responsePublic health

Identifiers

PMID40761748
PMCPMC12319543

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.