Social Science issues relating to Monkeypox
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
Department Name: Science, Tech, Eng and Public Policy
Abstract
This project proposes scoping primary qualitative research in the form of roundtables and a narrative evidence review to explore community organising and information sharing among MSM during monkeypox, the influence of social media, and the role of underserved communities. With this data, this project will identify lessons for future communication, explore the role of social media and highlight dynamics of exclusion. It will produce highly policy-relevant evidence-based recommendations that answer the needs identified in the IPPO stage 1 report.
Publications
Garcia-Iglesias J
(2023)
Social media as a public health tool during the UK mpox outbreak: a qualitative study of stakeholders' experiences
in BMJ Public Health
Garcia-Iglesias J
(2024)
Dating apps as health allies? Examining the opportunities and challenges of dating apps as partners in public health.
in Medical humanities
| Description | The 2022 Mpox outbreak saw community organisations and sexual health services rise to the challenge of rapidly responding to a public health emergency. Nevertheless, the experience showed that successfully responding to an outbreak is often dependent on preparedness, planning, and existing infrastructure, and success in future outbreaks and scenarios may depend on this work being undertaken now. This report sets out key findings about the successes and challenges in the response to Mpox in the UK and internationally and makes researchbased policy recommendations for future similar contexts. These include suggesting that: • Collaborative relationships with community organisations should be proactively fostered before an outbreak occurs, to build preparedness and resilience; and that • Governments should appreciate and appropriately resource social and medical infrastructure, including sexual health services, as these are key actors in responding to an outbreak such as Mpox. For other future scenarios including a potential rebounding of cases, the report further recommends actions including: • Deploying successful interventions such as co-producing messaging with and for affected communities; and • Targeting support to those facing additional barriers to accessing healthcare. The full list of key findings and policy recommendations is collated on the next page. The report also sets out further avenues for research illuminated by the project and its findings. |
| Exploitation Route | A bid for funding for a project building on the findings of this project was submitted to the ESRC in March 2024. |
| Sectors | Healthcare Government Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://t0p897.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Responding-to-Mpox.pdf |
| Description | The findings were welcomed by the third sector including the Terence Higgins Trust who wrote the forward for the report, and the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV. The findings provide invaluable information for the interface between sexual health services and governments for future outbreaks/scenarios akin to Mpox. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2023 |
| Sector | Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Recommendations to government |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Impact | Acceptance of recommendations for future outbreaks/scenarios as a result of research into the response to the 2022 Mpox outbreak. |
| URL | https://t0p897.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Responding-to-Mpox.pdf |
| Title | Responding to Mpox |
| Description | The 2022 Mpox outbreak saw community organisations and sexual health services rise to the challenge of rapidly responding to a public health emergency. Nevertheless, the experience showed that successfully responding to an outbreak is often dependent on preparedness, planning, and existing infrastructure, and success in future outbreaks and scenarios may depend on this work being undertaken now. This report sets out key findings about the successes and challenges in the response to Mpox in the UK and internationally and makes researchbased policy recommendations for future similar contexts. These include suggesting that: • Collaborative relationships with community organisations should be proactively fostered before an outbreak occurs, to build preparedness and resilience; and that • Governments should appreciate and appropriately resource social and medical infrastructure, including sexual health services, as these are key actors in responding to an outbreak such as Mpox. For other future scenarios including a potential rebounding of cases, the report further recommends actions including: • Deploying successful interventions such as co-producing messaging with and for affected communities; and • Targeting support to those facing additional barriers to accessing healthcare. The full list of key findings and policy recommendations is collated on the next page. The report also sets out further avenues for research illuminated by the project and its findings. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Recommendations to government as set out in the report. |
| URL | https://t0p897.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Responding-to-Mpox.pdf |
| Description | Partnership with other universities and the UK Health Security Agency |
| Organisation | Public Health England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Joint research project on Mpox, including policy-focused recommendations in partnership with colleagues from the Universities of Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Queens University Belfast, and the UK Health Security Agency. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in research project and contributors to joint report. |
| Impact | Final report: https://t0p897.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Responding-to-Mpox.pdf |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Partnership with other universities and the UK Health Security Agency |
| Organisation | Queen's University Belfast |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Joint research project on Mpox, including policy-focused recommendations in partnership with colleagues from the Universities of Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Queens University Belfast, and the UK Health Security Agency. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in research project and contributors to joint report. |
| Impact | Final report: https://t0p897.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Responding-to-Mpox.pdf |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Partnership with other universities and the UK Health Security Agency |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Joint research project on Mpox, including policy-focused recommendations in partnership with colleagues from the Universities of Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Queens University Belfast, and the UK Health Security Agency. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in research project and contributors to joint report. |
| Impact | Final report: https://t0p897.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Responding-to-Mpox.pdf |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Partnership with other universities and the UK Health Security Agency |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Joint research project on Mpox, including policy-focused recommendations in partnership with colleagues from the Universities of Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Queens University Belfast, and the UK Health Security Agency. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in research project and contributors to joint report. |
| Impact | Final report: https://t0p897.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Responding-to-Mpox.pdf |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Partnership with other universities and the UK Health Security Agency |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Joint research project on Mpox, including policy-focused recommendations in partnership with colleagues from the Universities of Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, Queens University Belfast, and the UK Health Security Agency. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Participation in research project and contributors to joint report. |
| Impact | Final report: https://t0p897.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Responding-to-Mpox.pdf |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Public Online Event: Responding to Mpox: Report Launch of the Research Project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This event launched the ESRC IPPO Mpox Project's report, Responding to Mpox: Communities, Communication, and Infrastructures. The project explored community organising and information sharing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in relation to Monkeypox, including the influence of social media and underserved communities. The project used primary qualitative research to identify lessons from the outbreak for future communication and produce relevant, evidence-based recommendations for policymakers. The event also featured guest remarks by Claire Dewsnap (President of the British Sexual Health and HIV Association) and Ceri Smith (Policy Head at Terrence Higgins Trust). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/responding-to-mpox-report-launch-of-the-research-project-tickets-5758... |