Community Resilience and Cultural Responses in Crisis: Lessons Learned from Pacific Islander Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the USA

Abstract

Pacific Islander communities in the USA experienced some of the most severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative synthesis examines the literature on Pacific Islander community responses and lessons learned from COVID-19, using a systematic search that identified 28 articles with this focus. Thematic analysis was subsequently used to classify both documented efforts by Pacific Islander communities to respond to the pandemic, as well as lessons learned and best practices from research in this area. Results revealed multiple efforts to address the pandemic, including Pacific Islander grassroots approaches, government responses, inter-sector collaboration, and research. Results further emphasized the importance of culturally and linguistically responsive outreach and messaging; partnership, engagement, and capacity building; and changes in research and policy approaches to promote health equity. Future efforts to address public health crises should make the most of Pacific Islander cultural approaches to disaster response. To achieve this, government and other organizations that work with PI communities need to support the development of the PI leadership, healthcare and research workforces, and work with Pacific Islander communities to build long-term, sustainable, and trustworthy partnerships.

Community health nurses leadership in advancing health equity

“…Significant structural upstream solutions were suggested and attended to the SDOH through improvement in housing, food security, and accessibility to community services by instituting guaranteed basic income and housing access policies. Aligned with our findings, these solutions have been recognized in the recent literature (Abrams et al., 2020; Burrage et al., 2023; Heris et al., 2022; NCCDH, 2023). In a rapid review highlighting a trauma‐informed public health emergency response, policy interventions such as financial support and safe housing are one approach which allows people to comply with stay‐at‐home orders (Heris et al., 2022).…”

“…Despite the hardships experienced in communities, the CHNs in the study acknowledged the tremendous strengths demonstrated by communities as they rallied together to find grassroots solutions which is an untapped synergy to capitalize on. In a qualitative study, grassroots approaches with community leaders were one important community response in the pandemic that contributed to resilience (Burrage et al., 2023). Likewise, (Heris et al., 2022) reports in their rapid review that collaborative approaches were found to improve outcomes like increased engagement and motivation.…”

“…These authors also highlight that application of trauma-informed approaches were especially important with Indigenous populations (Heris et al, 2022). Burrage et al (2023) and Abrams et al (2020) When considering policy solutions CHNs indicated that health equity policies would also be essential to implement in emergency management and response prior to future health crises. Abrams et al…”

Cumulative trauma and perceived community resilience: A serial mediation model

“…Connection and caring imply a sense of belonging and support systems that can meet the diverse needs of members. Resources include natural, physical, information, human, social, and financial resources, and in connection with this, communities need a diversified and redundant resource base to maintain essential functions during major disruptions such as the Covid‐19 pandemic (Burrage et al, 2023). Information and communication refer to the availability and accuracy of information and the effectiveness of communication within a community (Pfefferbaum et al, 2013).…”

“…Factors contributing to perceived community resilience during the COVID‐19 pandemic include strong leadership, access to reliable information, and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Communities that have invested in these areas have been better equipped to respond to the challenges posed by the pandemic (Burrage et al, 2023).…”