UH team leads new survey to assess COVID-19’s impact in Hawaiʻi

from UH News, August 17, 2020

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa faculty are leading a statewide survey to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on the health and social welfare of individuals and populations across Hawaiʻi, and are seeking the public’s help. The survey results will be used by state officials to identify important issues and make decisions on targeting resources to communities in need.

The survey, which takes about 10 minutes to complete, should be completed by one participant per household, 18 years or older.

Complete the survey: Assessment of the Emerging Needs / Threats to Health & Social Welfare as a Result of COVID-19 Among Individuals in HI

The UH Mānoa interdisciplinary team is part of the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) State Essential Functions 8: Community Care Outreach (CCO) unit and includes Kristine Qureshi of the School of Nursing and Dental Hygiene; Lee Buenconsejo-Lum of the John A. Burns School of Medicine; and Robin Arndt, Tetine Sentell and Rachel Burrage from the Myron B. Thompson School of Social Work and Office of Public Health Studies.

“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the State of Hawaiʻi continues to adversely affect all segments of the population,” said Qureshi, unit lead. “Social, economic and health systems continue to be strained, and as a result the health and social welfare of individuals are at risk. This is especially true for the most vulnerable groups in Hawaiʻi.”

The survey builds on a recent CCO unit survey of human and health service agencies which identified organizational needs and priorities related to serving Hawaiʻi’s population during the pandemic.

“We encourage our UH community to participate in the survey and forward it to others to help in our response to this dangerous virus,” said Qureshi.

Community leaders assisting the UH/HIEMA team with survey development, item testing and distribution, include: Sheri Daniels, Josie Howard and Mele Look (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islands communities); May Rose Dela Cruz (Filipino community); Emma Growchowsky (homeless community); Isabella Silk, Barbara Tom, Kenson Alik and Neil Palafox (Pacific Islands community); and Allison Mikuni (rural and neighbor island communities).

The survey is being administered in close collaboration with the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health and HIEMA.

Complete the survey at: http://go.hawaii.edu/3P6. For more information, email Qureshi at hiemacco@hawaii.edu.