Logic of Information Policy Tool Selection in Major Public Health Emergencies: Analysis Based on Typical Cases in China

The selection of information tools in public health emergencies is a crucial aspect of achieving emergency management objectives. Identifying the influencing factors and their mechanisms helps reveal government preferences in emergency management decision-making and enhance information management and regulation capabilities. Based on the ”technology-organization-environment” analytical framework, seven observed elements that influence government information tool selection are summarized, and a fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is conducted on 29 typical cases in China. The research shows that the selection of government information tools in public health emergencies mainly depends on the strength of the institutional and social environments. Among them, pressure from higher-level governments is the core variable determining the selection of information tools, while media reports and public opinion serve as sufficient conditions. The five conditional configurations can be further summarized into three information tool selection models: vertical authority directive mechanism, institutional environment shaping mechanism, and dual pressure driving mechanism, forming a closed-loop path that shapes institutional space from top down and creates social environment from bottom up. The practical analysis based on the selection of ”propaganda and education” tools further verifies this logic.