Media In Risk Communication Research Articles

Engagement in Social Distancing: An Empirical Test of Media, Intra-Family and Doctor-Patient Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study investigated how media presentations, intra-family communication, and doctor-patient communication influence compliance with social distancing orders during the initial COVID-19 outbreak. Results from an online survey in China suggested that media risk communication, intra-family communication, and doctor-patient communication enhanced respondents’ intention for social distancing via the mediations of positive attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Additionally, trust in government, information verification, and active media engagement can improve the outcome of risk communication. This study underscores the value of TPB framework in fostering health promotion. By analyzing the interplay between psychological constructs and communication channels, this research contributes to a nuanced understanding of compliance behavior amid pandemics, facilitating informed policy-making and promoting public cooperation. Ultimately, these insights illuminate pathways to cultivate informed decision-making and responsible actions during health crises.

Family risk communication preferences in pediatric surgery: A scoping review

BackgroundEffective patient-surgeon communication is vital in pediatric surgical practice. However, family (including child) preferences for the format and content of risk communication information are largely unknown. In order to optimize the shared-decision making process, this scoping review explored the family-preferred methods for risk communication in pediatric surgery. MethodsA search was conducted in 7 databases from inception until June 2020 to identify family risk communication preferences in pediatric surgical patients, with language restricted to English and French. Two independent reviewers completed the screening in Rayyan software following PRISMA protocol. Included publications were reviewed for data extraction, analyzed, and assessed for risk of bias using standardized instruments. ResultsA total of 6370 publications were retrieved, out of which 70 were included. Studies were predominantly from ENT (30.0%), general surgery (15.7%), and urology (11.4%). Family-preferred risk communication methods were classified as visual, verbal, technology-based, written, decision aids or other. Technological (32.4%) and written tools (29.7%) were most commonly chosen by families as their preferred risk communication methods. Written tools were frequently used in general surgery and urology, while technology-based tools were widely used in ENT. Most studies were cross-sectional and had a significant risk of bias. ConclusionEliciting families’ preferences for risk communication methods is critical for the implementation of shared decision-making. Different risk communication media appear to be preferred within specific surgical domains. To further improve shared-decision making in pediatric surgery, the development and usage of robust, validated risk communication tools are necessary. Level of evidenceLevel IV (Scoping Review).

Sharon Dunwoody’s Legacy: Three Timely Lessons for Us

Sharon Dunwoody gained international reputation for her research on science journalism and media risk communication. Drawing on her publications published over more than four decades and the author’s long-lasting collaboration with her, this commentary elaborates on three of her most characteristic beliefs and orientations and suggests that they may serve as timely lessons for us to critically reflect on current assumptions and practices: substance over showmanship, improving one-way communication, and respecting the audience.

Risk İletişimi Bağlamında Deprem Haberlerinin Çerçevelenmesi: Radyo ve Televizyonda Depremin Temsili

Doğal afet kaynaklı risklere yönelik farkındalık sağlanmasında, toplumsal bilincin geliştirilmesinde ve risk nedenli hasarların en aza indirilebilmesi için ideal tutumların edinilmesinde, medyanın önemli bir rol oynadığı kabul edilmektedir. Türkiye için yüksek ve daimî risk teşkil eden depremin medya gündeminde yer alış biçimleri de bu nedenledir ki özel bir önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmada da deprem riskinin taşıdığı bu çok özel öneme odaklanmış ve TRT Haber, A Haber, CNN Türk, Habertürk ve NTV televizyon ve radyo kanallarının analizi birer örneklem alanı olarak kabul edilmiştir. Bu kanalların, 26 Eylül 2019 İstanbul ve 30 Ekim 2020 İzmir depremlerine yönelik haber ve benzeri program içerikleri, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden İçerik Analizi tekniği ile incelenmiş, izlerkitlede yaratılmak istenen etkilerin gözlenebilmesi için işlevsel bir araç olan ve seçici bir kontrol süreci anlamını taşıyan çerçeveleme paradigması, risk iletişimi ile bağlantılandırılarak çalışmaya kuramsal altyapı oluşturulmuştur. Yapılan analizler sonucu, risk iletişiminde geleneksel medyanın sahip olduğu rol ve konum ile çelişik bir görünüm ortaya çıkmıştır. Kategorilere göre yapılan analizlerde, ana akım radyo ve televizyon kanallarının risk iletişimi bağlamında herhangi bir çalışma yürütmediği ve afetler meydana gelmeden afetlere ilişkin riskleri gündemine almadığı tespit edilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgulara göre, geleneksel iletişim araçları olarak radyo ve televizyon kanalları, risk iletişimine gereken önemi vermemekte, “aydınlatma ve bilgilendirme” işlevlerini “risk ve afet” bağlamında yerine getirmemekte ve afetler meydana gelmeden önce gerekli uyarıların dolaşıma sokulmasını gerektiren proaktif tutumu sergilememektedirler. Ayrıca, proaktif bir yaklaşımla, kamuoyunu aydınlatma işlevinin gereği olarak risklere karşı kamuoyunu hazırlamak yerine, her felaket sonrasında yaşanılanları fazlasıyla hikâyeleştirme ve yoğun dramatizasyona dayalı yayıncılık pratiği sergilemektedirler.

Interpersonal risk communication matters more than media risk communication in its impact on individuals’ trust and preventive behaviors during COVID-19

A cross-sectional survey study from 1496 respondents was conducted to investigate how interpersonal risk communication and media risk communication foster individuals' interpersonal trust and trust in scientists during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Findings reveal that interpersonal risk communication is significantly related to interpersonal trust and trust in scientists, but have no direct association with preventive behaviors. Media risk communication is significantly associated with preventive behaviors and increases individuals’ trust in scientists while having no effect on interpersonal trust. Preventive behaviors are significantly influenced by both interpersonal trust and trust in scientists. In addition, trust mediated the association between risk communication and preventive behaviors.

The Use ofTwitterby Official Institutions in Disaster Risk Communication and Resilience

This study aims to explore the use of Twitter by Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) in 2021, which is determined as the year of disaster education. Within the scope of this study, the tweets of the AFAD Presidency in the media section between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, were examined. The tweets were categorized considering hazard types (geological, hydrological and climatological, biological, technological accidents and Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN), forest fires, migration, and other) and phases of the disaster management cycle (pre-disaster (mitigation, and preparedness), response, and post-disaster recovery). Five hundred and eighty tweets related to disasters were identified including the number of 88 disaster irrelevant tweets. Most of the tweets were related to hydrological and meteorological hazards. Regarding the biological disaster-induced COVID-19, only two tweets specific to the response process were identified. This study provides an overview of the characteristics and the potential role of social media in risk communication. These institutions can provide the risk information and work closely with the media to reach and share with the community.

Did the world overlook the media’s early warning of COVID-19?

This perspective is written to give a rapid response to discuss the role of media in risk communication in the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We analyze two sets of media data, China’s social media and global news event, and draw a few initial observations in relation to the impacts of China’s information control policy, global risk governance, and the role of WHO.

Earthquake Country: A Qualitative Analysis of Risk Communication via Facebook

ABSTRACT Social media play an increasingly important role in effective risk communication for disasters like earthquakes. This study investigates a Facebook discussion group for disaster risk communication in Alaska, comparing patterns of use during periods of low magnitude activity and during the January 2018 M7.9 Gulf of Alaska earthquake. Findings illuminate the functions the group serves for different users, with public members and staff using it for both informational and social/emotional reasons, such as seeking/providing reassurance, building trust, and expressing “earthquake country” attitudes rooted in regional identity. Moreover, key functions vary throughout the earthquake cycle, with a focus on relationship-building and two-way communication during the interevent period and on controlling quality and accessibility following major events. These results contribute to theory on disaster social media and provide practical insights for organizations using social media for risk communication, including accounting for unique audience motivations and the role of place and regional identity.

Strategic Utilisation of Social Media in Risk Communication

Social media is a communication platform which has witnessed an exponential growth in use and influence in recent years, democratising the communication process especially with the uprising of citizenship journalism and 24-hours journalism. It offers risk/crisis communicators a way of putting into practice those principles which are advocated in good communica t ion practices to be at the core of their risk management and communication practices; at a very low cost, with excellent access to public, great spread and immense speed of spread. Malaysia has an advantage in this area, given that the penetration of social media in the country is 75%, making it 7th overall in the world in January 2018. Approaching this ‘double edge sword’ nature of social media as opportunities rather than challenges, it can be well utilised in risk and crisis communication and help improve emergency preparedness and response, reduce costs of disaster, improve transparency of decisions, and increase the potential of acceptance of outcomes. First and foremost, it is an excellent listening tool to help ‘feel the pulse’ of the public, picking up risk incidents discussed in the social media realm as part of Early Earning Surveillance System (EWARS). It helps to bridge the polarisation and gap between the perception of the public and the perception of the authorities/regulators/experts is a key issue that need to be addressed well in risk communication. Risk and crisis communications are valuable to enhance preparedness and response as they help to raise the level of awareness of citizens and their capacity to take the appropriate measures. With emerging disease, chemica l or radiological threats or even a familiar yearly occurring risk like haze or floods, it is essential to identify effective risk communication strategies for informing both the public and professionals, to promote and achieve appropriate behavioural patterns that mitigate public health risks. The different types of social media and mobile messaging can be complementar y in risk and crisis management. The social networking media can help enhance coordination among volunteers and emergency services. At the same time, content sharing media can assist in conducting situational awareness as many users will share images or videos of how a crisis is evolving in real time. We have seen this umpteenth time, even in Malaysia especially in relation to big incidents that concerns many and evoked emotional response from the public. Examples from some case studies of real incidents will be used to illustrate this; as to share the best practices by the Ministry of Health Malaysia on how social media can be indeed used strategically in risk and crisis communication.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2019 Page: 20

Die Risiken der Risikokommunikation und die Rolle der Massenmedien

Based on theories and empirical results from communication science, the present paper provides an overview of the role of mass media in risk communication. It is guided by the following questions: How do risk issues find their way into the media and how does the media depict them? How do mass-mediated risk messages affect people's perception of risks, knowledge, attitudes, and behavior? What potential does the media have in disseminating health risk information in campaigns? Hence, the present paper aims to provide a basis for the appropriate use of mass media in health risk communication so as to make use of the potential of mass media without neglecting its limits.

Media risk communication – what was said by whom and how was it interpreted

The purpose of this paper is to provide some insight into the level and type of media coverage that food risks received and consider the translation of press releases into media articles. Past scientific messages dealing with two food risks (Salmonella and Genetically Modified (GM) potatoes) were collected from various Irish media sources over a defined period. In addition, press releases and helpline data were collected. All data pieces were subsequently coded. Based on the audit it is clear that island of Ireland journalists are generally balanced with regard to their reporting on Salmonella. In most cases where press releases could be linked to the newspaper articles, the press release was represented fairly accurately. This brings into clear focus the need by those issuing press releases to be very clear on the meaning of their message. Journalists are using the press releases as the basis for articles therefore vague terms and overemphasis on a particular finding can result in what may appear as a sensational article. In the case of GMs more sensational hooks were used to draw attention to the articles. Thus communicators need to be aware of the characteristics of the risk they are communicating about when designing and delivering a risk message.

Interpreting risk messages: Women's responses to a health story

Risk communication is an integral part of modern health care and is often high on news agendas having news values such as negativity. Recently concern has been raised by the government, the academic community and journalists themselves about the way risk is reported (Harrabin et al. 2003). Harrabin et al. (2003) illustrate their argument for guidelines on reporting risk by analysing the content of recent media risk communications. The present study set out to evaluate the effect of a media risk communication on its audience by asking a large sample of women (176) how they responded to a media risk communication published in the national press. From this study a picture emerges of a process whereby many women experience an emotive response to risk and then attempt to defend themselves from any anxiety incurred. Altering risky behaviour is only one of many anxiety reduction strategies utilized by the women in this study. The way women respond to risk is mediated by the context in which the risk is experienced. Individual contexts such as age or personal experiences of the person receiving the message, the context of the message itself and the social context in which the message is received interplay to influence the way individuals respond.

Breast cancer risk communication: challenges and future research directions: workshop report (United States).

The Dana-Farber Harvard Cancer Center and the Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention convened a conference in May 2002 to review the current issues in breast cancer risk communication and to identify directions for future research. Specific topics included risk communication theory, use of risk models in breast cancer screening, genetic testing, decision-making regarding breast cancer treatment, and the role of popular media in risk communication. This report describes the proceedings of the conference.

Communicating risks to the public: international perspectives

Risk communication: the evolution of attempts.- I: Risk Communication Practices.- 1. Risk communication in Europe: Ways of implementing art. 8 of the post-Seveso directive.- 2. Active and passive provision of risk information in the Netherlands.- 3. Developing communications about risks of major industrial accidents in the Netherlands.- 4. Rights and duties concerning the availability of environmental risk information to the public.- 5. Risk comparisons and risk communication: Issues and problems in comparing health and environmental risks.- II: Research Perspectives on Risk Communication Practices.- 6. Contaminated soil: public reactions, policy decisions, and risk communication.- 7. Prior knowledge and risk communication: The case of nuclear radiation and X-rays.- 8. The role of the media in risk communication.- 9. Credibility and trust in risk communication.- 10. How people might process medical information: A 'mental model' perspective on the use of package inserts.- 11. Communicating about pesticides in drinking water.- 12. The time dimension in perception and communication of risk.- 13. Risk communication and the social amplification of risk.- III: New Approaches and Methods.- 14. Hazard images, evaluations and political action: The case of toxic waste incineration.- 15. The danger culture of industrial society.- 16. Risk communication in emergencies.- 17. Risk communication: The need for a broader perspective.- 18. Small group studies of regulatory decision making for power-frequency electric and magnetic fields.- 19. Strategies of risk communication: Observations from two participatory experiments.