Evaluation Of Risk Perception Research Articles

Heat and heavy rain prevention measures in daycare centres and care facilities: an evaluation of risk perception, communication and information materials

Heat and heavy rain can have negative health impacts for people in Germany. Vulnerable groups in particular, such as children and the elderly, are at increased risk and require special precautions. This paper examines how employers of the municipal administration and facilitating organisations perceive the risk of heat and heavy rain for daycare centres and care facilities, and to what extent an exchange takes place between the municipal level and the facilities. In addition, specially developed information materials with recommendations for action for adapting to heat and heavy rain that are aimed at such facilities were evaluated. In the summer of 2021, we conducted aquantitative survey. Atotal of 333 respondents from municipal administrations, facilitating organisations and institutions participated. Descriptive analyses and ANOVAs were conducted. Risk perception and adaptation knowledge concerning heat was perceived higher than concerning heavy rain. The intention to support institutions in finding measures for adaptation was also higher with regard to heat. The majority of interviewees from municipal administrations and institutions communicated with institutions through various channels on different topics including the natural hazards mentioned. The information material was evaluated positively. This article shows that facilities are seen as very affected by heat waves. Awareness towards heavy rainfall needs to be raised. The feedback on the information material clearly shows ahigh need in this area.

“Food made with edible insects”: Exploring the social representation of entomophagy where it is unfamiliar

Insects have attracted much attention as a novel food source because of their environmental and nutritional advantages. In Latin America, some traditional groups consume insects; but the urban areas of Brazil resist adopting insects as food, like most Western countries. Thus, this study investigated the social representation of edible insects to understand the barrier behind this avoidance and to identify their segmentation in the Brazilian population. Seven hundred and eighty individuals were interviewed in all the Brazilian regions. The interview was composed of a word association task, a risk perception evaluation and two open-ended questions about the subject. According to the structural approach of social representation, Disgust was the primary association with edible insects. Three segments of consumers were identified using the risk perception of eating insects. The first segment, composed mainly of young men with higher educational levels, had the lowest risk perception, and the most positive attitude about entomophagy, their associations were also positive, such as Acceptance and Sustainability; the second had average risk perception and neutral attitude towards edible insects, with neutral and positive associations (e.g., Flavor and Culture); and the third, formed mostly by older women with lower educational level, presented the highest risk perception and the most negative attitude, and exhibited negative associations (Disgust, and Fear). The insect consumption in Brazil would be favored by using species of crickets, grasshoppers, ants, and their fried and roasted styles of preparations. Also, participants would eat insects mainly because of survival and curiosity.

Evaluation of risk perception, knowledge, and preparedness of extreme storm events for the improvement of coastal resilience among migrants: A lesson from Hong Kong

AbstractThe severity, intensity, and frequency of extreme storm events facing coastal areas are increasing due to climate change and urban sprawl. Migrant populations are particularly vulnerable in extreme storm events due to resource deficits, a lack of preparedness, and social isolation. Empirical knowledge is needed to help develop comprehensive guidelines to improve coastal resilience for the prevention of adverse impacts from extreme storm events, which should include specific action plans for migrant communities. A cross‐sectional telephone survey was conducted in Hong Kong in July 2018. Most of the 1,015 participants agreed that it was very likely that super typhoons would hit the city in the future. Although most of the migrants under study had lived in Hong Kong for more than 30 years and acquired the local spoken language, there were many significant differences between the migrants and native‐born populations surveyed, notably migrants' comparative lack of knowledge about the tropical cyclone warnings (odds ratio [OR] = 0.320, confidence interval, CI [0.227, 0.451]). Moreover, fewer migrants than native‐born populations had prepared first‐aid kits (OR = 0.583, CI [0.424, 0.801]) or flashlights (OR = 0.412, CI [0.260, 0.655]) at home. A longer migration duration did not change the risk perception or preparedness for a typhoon but did have a significant positive influence on knowledge. In addition, migration played a significant moderating role in enhancing the effect of risk perception on daily disaster preparedness. This research, addressing the needs of migrants in disaster risk reduction, suggests that future research and policy formulation should focus on strengthening migrants' preparedness for typhoons and enhancing their disaster risk literacy.

Geo-hydrological and seismic risk awareness at school: Emergency preparedness and risk perception evaluation

One of the targets of the Sendai Framework is to reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure and the disruption of basic services, particularly in educational facilities, and to develop their resilience. To assess the geo-hydrological and seismic risk awareness in schools in Tuscany (Italy), ad hoc questionnaires were set up. These questionnaires focused on the knowledge of the correct behaviours and procedures during an emergency as well as risk awareness and perception. These questionnaires were different for each school age (from 3 to 19 years old) and were even conceived as a didactic instrument. We distributed 5899 in total (820 to the school staff and 5079 to the students of each school stage), and the analysis shows that, a) as age and responsibilities increase, geo-hydrological and seismic risk awareness and preparation do not increase proportionally, which is almost inadequate for the staff, and b) there is a disconnect between the school evacuation plans and the city civil protection plan. The proposed questionnaires were found to be a good instrument for both disaster education (to increase and improve the level of awareness) and school-resilience evaluation (not only within the Geohazard Safety Classification method) to plan further action and improve it. Therefore, the present study suggests priorities for future school-based emergency management efforts, i.e., to increase school resilience and develop a resilience culture in the community. It is necessary to improve the dissemination of information on the local geo-hydrological and seismic hazards and ensure a link among the different emergency plans.

Evaluation of Risk Perception and Management in Emergency Medical Services Providers Working in Pre-hospital Areas in Kayseri, Turkey

Evaluation of Risk Perception and Management in Emergency Medical Services Providers Working in Pre-hospital Areas in Kayseri, Turkey

Vandalism-Militancy Relationship: The Influence of Risk Perception and Moral Disengagement

Both risk perception and moral disengagement underpin crisis intensification, and influence risk behaviours. This research, examines whether risk perception and moral disengagement mechanisms influence vandalism and militancy (terrorism), and if these mechanisms can provide alternative strategies for managing unconventional mass emergencies and disasters. This paper will also clarify and discuss the relevance of the concepts: moral disengagement, moral evaluation, and social trust. The influence and implications of risk perception and moral disengagement on crisis management on a case study of the vandalism and militant incidents that have occurred Niger Delta region over the last decade are discussed. Specifically, this investigation demonstrates that there are potential gains in crisis management, when crisis dimensions, morality issues, and risk perception are used to help anchor strategic options during crises. The present study found that people are more likely to disengage from moral conducts when the mechanisms of moral evaluation and disengagement are routinely experienced. In doing so, people become skilled at neutralising morally questionable behaviours and activities such as vandalism. The findings also indicate that environmental risks are perceived to be more important than economic or biological risks during crises, and that individuals’ susceptible to moral disengagement are not predestined for delinquency. Therefore, environmental victimisation, moralistic punishment, and moral surveillance are all active factors necessary for risk and crisis leaders to address when trying to manage crises. This paper advances the crisis management literature through the analysis of moral disengagement and its implications for crises. This study also provides evidence that errors in risk perception evaluation can lead to ineffective crisis response, and ineffective strategic practices when managing crisis. The findings also challenge assumptions that vandals and militants are inhumane, and that capturing or alienating them will help prevent or reduce future crisis/disaster. Instead, it is argued that these perceptions and practices are ineffective and unsustainable. The implications and limitations of these findings are also discussed.