Effectiveness Of Risk Communication Research Articles

Evaluation of Effectiveness of Risk Communication for Medication Therapy

安心・安全な医薬品使用を推進するには，患者，患者の家族，医療者，製薬企業，行政などの関係者間での医薬品ならびに医薬品服用に伴い想定されるリスク，特に副作用についてあらかじめ情報を共有し，リスクの発生を最小化するためのリスクコミュニケーションが適正に実施されることが重要である。医薬品のリスクコミュニケーションは，安全性情報の収集と分析に基づくリスクコミュニケーションの立案，関係者間での情報共有とリスクを最小化するためのアクションの実施，アクションの実施状況と結果に基づくリスクコミュニケーションの評価，評価結果に基づく改善の4段階で進められるが，現在，そのいずれの段階においても課題が指摘されている。特に，評価についてはこれまで確立された方法は少なく，早期の対応が望まれる。今回，行政，製薬企業から医療者への安全性情報の伝達についての評価をレセプトデータならびに医療者による安全性情報検索数を用いて検討する方法を試みた。その結果，検討に用いた2事例ではいずれも注意喚起が医療者に浸透し，リスクを回避するために処方行動が変化していることが確認できた。今後，継続的にリスクコミュニケーションを改善していくために，医療者への安全性情報伝達の評価の仕組みを取り入れるとともに，患者を含めたチーム医療の中で，リスクに関する双方向コミュニケーションが推進され，リスク最小化を共に考える意識が醸成されることが急務であると考える。

Abstract CN15-03: The importance of form, content, and context in the design and effectiveness of risk communication methods

Abstract CN15-03: The importance of form, content, and context in the design and effectiveness of risk communication methods

Survey among agricultural workers about interpretation of plant protection product labels and safety data sheets.

The objective of this work was to examine the effectiveness of risk communication in agriculture through examination and interpretation of safety data sheets and product labels for agriculture products classified as hazardous. Labels and safety data sheets were shown to the users inviting them to report their own interpretation of hazard, risk and the need of preventive measures. One area sample was identified in a cluster of wine companies, chosen in a range of medium to large sizes throughout the country, where 100 subjects were interviewed by telephone or direct interview. Participants were surveyed through questions relating to demographic information, education and perception of risk.

Risk Communication/Issuance of Risk Warnings with Respect to Air Pollution: Assessment of Actions Undertaken by the Government Authorities in Guadalajara, Mexico

ISEE-0116 Background and Objective: Society today faces an increase in high levels of exposure and risk to causes associated to air pollution. The local government’s ability to respond to environmental threats is often surpassed, as is their ability to prevent, reduce and eliminate such risks. The aim of this research is to assess governmental action in communicating and issuing risk warnings in an area with high levels of exposure to air pollution. Methods: We followed a methodology based on ideal models, which has no point of reference in reality. Such ideal models are defined by the characteristics and values of the elements which determine an appropriate communication of the presence of risks. The elements of analysis are: citizen involvement; planning of the communication process and the message; the means of communication and the information. Results: Current practices related to risk communication reveal several important weaknesses with respect to governmental agencies: citizens are viewed simply as the recipients of the information; the strategy does not define target groups; citizen involvement is not incorporated into the planning process; there is no clear definition of the problem to be addressed nor of the periods for execution of the strategy; the messages do not take into consideration the specific population they are addressing nor their information needs; there is no action regarding assessment of the risk communication's effectiveness and its impact on the population. Governmental practices center on undertaking actions that are not linked to the causes of the air pollution problem and protection measures necessary to reduce the community's exposure and vulnerability. Conclusion: The situation found in risk communication processes is the result of a lack in human, organizational and institutional skills and abilities. It is necessary to work at three basic levels: human resources; organizational change and institutional reform.

A Study on the Effect of Risk Communication on Consumers' Psychological Response and Attitude in the Foodservice Industry

A Study on the Effect of Risk Communication on Consumers' Psychological Response and Attitude in the Foodservice Industry

A Study on the Effect of Risk Communication on Consumers' Psychological Response and Attitude in the Foodservice Industry

A Study on the Effect of Risk Communication on Consumers' Psychological Response and Attitude in the Foodservice Industry

Framing Effects of Risk Communication in Health-Related Decision Making; Learning from a Discrete Choice Experiment

Background How to communicate uncertainty is a major concern in medicine and in health economics. We aimed at studying the framing effects of risk communication on stated preferences in a discrete choice experiment (DCE) performed to elicit women’s preferences for Hormone Replacement Therapy. Methods Two versions of the questionnaire were randomly administered to respondents. Multiple risks were expressed as natural frequencies using either a constant reference class (Design 1) or variable reference classes (Design 2). We first tested whether Design 1 would impose a lower cognitive burden than Design 2. We then examined whether the two designs resulted in different utility model estimates. Results Design 1 improved consistency (monotonicity and stability). However, rates of dominance or intransitive responses did not differ across designs. Design 1 decreased women’s sensitivity to the risk of fractures and increased their sensitivity to the risk of breast cancer as compared to all other attributes. Discussion Framing effects of risk communication on stated preferences may be a major problem in the design of DCEs. More research is needed to determine whether our findings are replicable and to further investigate the normative question of how to improve risk communication in health-related decision-making.

Visualizing Seismic Risk and Uncertainty

Government agencies and other authorities often communicate earthquake risks using maps derived from geographic information systems. Yet, little is known about the effects of these maps on risk perceptions. While mental models research and other approaches are available to inform risk communication text design, similar empirically derived guidance is lacking for visual risk communications, such as maps, which are likely to trump text in their impact and appeal. This paper reviews the empirical research that might inform such guidance. Research on graphs, spatial and visual perception, and map design suggests that graphics increase risk avoidance over numerical risk representations, and countable visuals, like dots, can increase the accuracy of perceived risks, but not always. Cartographic design features, such as color, animation, interactivity, and depth cues, are all candidates to represent risk and uncertainty and to influence risk perception. While there are robust known effects of color (e.g., red = danger), with some cultural variability, animation can increase the salience of otherwise obscure features but is not uniformly effective. Depth cues, dimensionality, and the extent to which a representation depicts versus symbolizes a scene will influence the viewer's perspective and perception, depending on the viewer's familiarity with the scene; their effects on risk perception remain unclear. The translation and representation of technical information about risk and uncertainty is critical to risk communication effectiveness. Our review suggests a handful of candidate criteria for evaluating the effects of risk visualizations, short of changes in behavior: accuracy, accessibility, retention, and perceived risk and usefulness.

Trust in motives, trust in competence: Separate factors determining the effectiveness of risk communication

AbstractAccording to Siegrist, Earle and Gutscher’s (2003) model of risk communication, the effect of advice about risk on an agent’s behavior depends on the agent’s trust in the competence of the advisor and on their trust in the motives of the advisor. Trust in competence depends on how good the advice received from the source has been in the past. Trust in motives depends on how similar the agent assesses the advisor’s values to be to their own. We show that past quality of advice and degree of similarity between advisors’ and judges’ values have separate (non-interacting) effects on two types of agent behavior: the degree of trust expressed in a source (stated trust) and the weight given to the source’s advice (revealed trust). These findings support Siegrist et al.’s model. We also found that revealed trust was affected more than stated trust by differences in advisor quality. It is not clear how this finding should be accommodated within Siegrist et al.’s (2003) model.

Academic Research Evidence and Risk Communication on the Ground: Bridging the Gap

ISEE-285 Objective: Despite a burgeoning academic literature on risk communication and mounting pressures on environmental experts to undertake risk communication, academic research is not getting through to risk communicators at the ground level. We will consider: (i) What gaps currently exist between academic researchers and risk communicators? (ii) What can we do to address these gaps? (iii) How can we most effectively use the academic evidence base on the effectiveness of risk communication to guide decisions on the ground? Material and Methods: (i) Literature review around the effectiveness of risk communication. (ii) Secondary analysis of 3 qualitative case studies that explored risk communication in the context of recent controversies in the North of England: (a) foot and mouth carcass disposal sites, (b) the Byker incinerator, and (c) Barnsley lead melting and molding. Results: Risk researchers usually have no experience of doing risk communication. Conversely, risk communicators often have little knowledge of academic work on risk (often published in academic journals). Subsequently, academic evidence around risk communication is not being tested in real life and is not getting through to people at the front line. Academic evidence on the effectiveness of risk communication suggests 3 key barriers: (i) mistrust; (ii) differing understandings of risk operationalized by experts and the public, and (iii) practical barriers. Experts also often feel that they lack training and a “workable language” to use. Conclusions: To most effectively use academic evidence to guide procedures used by risk communicators, we need to reduce interdisciplinary obstacles for learning to facilitate “jargon free” “joint-up” approaches. The authors (1 an academic and 1 a risk communicator) have worked for 4 years with other risk communicators to develop a Web-based interactive tool to provide evidence-based guidance for risk communication in the context of environmental hazards. The Website will be piloted and evaluated by users in 2007.

A New Model for Communicating Risk Information in Direct-to-Consumer Print Advertisements

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical print ads are required by law to carry a “fair balance” of risks and benefits. There are little quantitative data on the effectiveness of risk communication to the consumer. A questionnaire-based method was used to compare consumer reactions to DTC print advertisements that varied in the amount and format of health risk information presented. The highest-scoring ads contained risk information in a prominent risk window. As the number of side effects listed (4, 8, or 12) increased, more consumers recalled no side effects correctly (37%, 45%, and 53%, respectively). On the basis of these results, communication of risk information to consumers could be improved by highlighting risks using a window format, and limiting the number of common side effects listed.

耐震補強の誘因と阻害要因 : 地震防災推進施策におけるリスクコミュニケーションの重要性

For programs of earthquake disaster reduction, past studies have revealed that it is quite important not only to provide reliable risk information, but also to promote the communication with others for information exchange. The result of a questionnaire survey to homeowners supported this neighbors' positive influence to retrofitting and also identified importance to provide engineering information on retrofitting plainly and to improve credibility of contractors of retrofitting work. Hence, interactive risk communication among homeowners, engineers and government officials is desired to assist comprehensive seismic risk management of homeowners. Based on the findings, programs to promote seismic risk management of houses are proposed from a viewpoint of effectiveness of risk communication.

Psychosocial aspects of risk communication and mutation testing in familial breast-ovarian cancer

As cancer genetics services develop, psychosocial research evaluating risk communication and mutation testing for familial breast-ovarian cancer has expanded rapidly. It is timely to review findings in key areas. These will inform risk counselling practice and help prepare women making risk management decisions. The psychological effect of risk communication and genetic counselling has been elucidated and women's risk perceptions explored. Knowledge of optimal risk communication strategies is lacking, but recent research shows both consistency in information giving and deficiencies in specific communication skills; the need for personally tailored risk information, which addresses counsellees' concerns, is highlighted. Outcome assessments of risk communication, such as risk perception and psychological distress, are useful but insufficient to evaluate the complex communication process, and decision making in this context is underresearched. Subsequent diffusion of risk information and interfamily communication pose difficulties for high-risk individuals. The short-term psychological consequences of predictive mutation testing are an important focus of research and are largely reassuring, but long-term outcomes are sparse. Our understanding of the psychological benefits and limitations of risk counselling and mutation testing can now inform clinical practice, but insufficient knowledge exists of long-term outcomes. Most women are unlikely to be distressed following risk communication, but some may need psychosocial support in the short term following predictive testing for BRCA1/2. Different approaches to risk communication need to be developed and evaluated in parallel with communications skills training to ensure an adequate focus on the women's agenda.

When a Day Means More than a Year: Effects of Temporal Framing on Judgments of Health Risk

We demonstrate the differential effects of framing health hazards as occurring every day versus every year, two reference periods that objectively refer to the present but subjectively seem different. Through three studies, we show that every day framing makes risks appear more proximal and concrete than every year framing, resulting in increased self-risk perceptions, intentions to exercise precautionary behavior, concern and anxiety about the hazard, and effectiveness of risk communication. Across different health domains, we show that, while temporal frames moderate self-positivity biases (study 1), difficulty of preventive behaviors (study 2) and outcome valence (study 3) moderate temporal framing effects.

Communication of medical product risk: how effective is effective enough?

Ever-increasing attention is being paid worldwide to the safety of medical products, and the risks associated with their use. The integral role of risk communication in overall risk management is demonstrated by several recent market withdrawals of drugs, in which a perceived incapability of healthcare systems to manage well-characterised, avoidable risks was a significant factor. With advances in clinical pharmacology, pharmacogenomics and pharmacoepidemiology expanding our knowledge of medical products, effective delivery of the latest safety-related information to health professionals and consumers becomes even more imperative. In this regard, it is important to evaluate whether current modes of risk communication lead to desired changes in relevant behaviours such as prescribing or drug monitoring, particularly in context with which achieved level of effectiveness is deemed acceptable. This is crucial, as there have been product-specific risk communication efforts that achieved a fair degree of success, yet were not seen as effective enough to prevent market withdrawal of the medical product in question. In the service of improving public health through enhanced risk communication, it is essential to critically assess current methods, both as to results achieved (or not), and whether each method is applicable to the various types of risks associated with medical product use. Furthermore, just as combining methods may well improve overall risk communication, there are societal and psychological factors that must be considered in attempting to maximise effectiveness. However, in assessing risk communication effectiveness, the particular benefit- risk relationship of any individual medical product must also be part of the evaluative process.

The development of COMRADE—a patient-based outcome measure to evaluate the effectiveness of risk communication and treatment decision making in consultations

Some instruments have been developed to evaluate ‘decision effectiveness’ such as the ‘satisfaction with decision (SWD)’ and ‘decision conflict (DCS)’ scales and are validated for the US context. Patients identify further outcome domains that are not fully covered in these scales. We developed a patient-based outcome measure to evaluate risk communication and decision making effectiveness, addressing these further domains and validated for use in the UK. Formulation of items was based on literature review and key informant interviews. The instrument was piloted and developed (including psychometric assessment) in the context of a trial of decision making and risk communication interventions in general practice. Patients were recruited to the trial with known atrial fibrillation, prostatism, menorrhagia or menopausal symptoms. High response rates (96% in first phase) indicated acceptability to patients. A 20 item patient-based outcome measure, with two sub-scales for ‘risk communication’ and ‘confidence in decision’, was produced. It allows for paternalistic, shared or informed choice decision making models. Usage in further studies will facilitate systematic reviews. Consequently, lessons for wider application of these interventions in practice, and policy implications regarding greater patient involvement should then be clearer.

A Randomized Clinical Trial to Test the Effectiveness of Risk Communication on Readiness to Change Among Smokers in a Primary Care Settin

A Randomized Clinical Trial to Test the Effectiveness of Risk Communication on Readiness to Change Among Smokers in a Primary Care Settin

Effectiveness of Risk Communication

Effectiveness of Risk Communication

Role of negative emotion in communication about CO2 risks.

This article describes how the effectiveness of risk communication is determined by the interaction between emotional and informative elements. An experiment is described that examined the role of negative emotion in communication about CO2 risks. This experiment was based on the elaboration likelihood model and the related heuristic systematic model of attitude formation. The results indicated that inducing fear of CO2 risks leads to systematic processing of information about energy conservation as a risk-reducing strategy. In turn, this results in more favorable attitudes toward energy conservation if strong arguments are provided. Individual differences in concern seem to have similar effects.

An integrated risk model of a drinking-water-borne cryptosporidiosis outbreak.

A dynamic risk model is developed to track the occurrence and evolution of a drinking-water-borne cryptosporidiosis outbreak. The model characterizes and integrates the various environmental, medical, institutional, and behavioral factors that determine outbreak development and outcome. These include contaminant delivery and detection, water treatment efficiency, the timing of interventions, and the choices that people make when confronted with a known or suspected risk. The model is used to evaluate the efficacy of alternative strategies for improving risk management during an outbreak, and to identify priorities for improvements in the public health system. Modeling results indicate that the greatest opportunity for curtailing a large outbreak is realized by minimizing delays in identifying and correcting a drinking-water problem. If these delays cannot be reduced, then the effectiveness of risk communication in preemptively reaching and persuading target populations to avoid exposure becomes important.