Risk Communication Messages Research Articles

What Does It Mean to Stand Out? How Visual Design and Presentation Affect Attention and Memory in a Warning Message

Abstract In emergency communication, it is essential to call attention to key information that can be interpreted quickly and remembered easily. Individuals possess a limited number of cognitive resources to allocate to message processing in an emergency. Because of this, they are more likely to allocate attention to messages they are motivated to care about or to message attributes that stand out. In this study, we focus on how warning messages are attended to when they are viewed in a busy media environment and ask the question: “What does it mean to stand out?” To address the research questions, we used a sequential explanatory design, mixed-methods approach. We employed eye tracking, a memory exercise, and think-aloud interviews to investigate visual attention, memory, and perceptions in response to warnings communicated via Twitter and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) for snow squall (SS) and dust storm (DS) hazards. Our findings revealed insights to assist message designers as they develop warning messages without burdening the message receiver with contents that require additional cognitive load. Colors help to draw attention to key elements and evoke a feeling of risk. Icons also draw attention and can serve as a signal that catches the eye, especially when actively viewed in a busy messaging environment. Additionally, techniques to make key text stand out through bold or the use of ALL CAPS may reduce effortful processing and eliminate the need for conscious fixations while resulting in easily remembered content. Significance Statement Visual risk communication messaging is often used to provide individuals with quick decision-making and protective action information in response to hazards. As messages increase in length and complexity, a burden is placed on risk communicators to capture the attention of message receivers. This study uses eye tracking, a memory exercise, and think-aloud interviews to investigate what factors influence visual attention, memory, and perceptions in response to warning messages over different channels. These methods allow us to not only answer questions about where people look, what they remember, and what draws their attention but also recommend tactics such as using ALL CAPS, colors, symbols, and icons, that can be used by message creators to maximize message effectiveness.

Appraisal of indigenous language risk communication intervention for COVID-19 in Lagos state

This study sought to identify the language use, pattern of themes, and context of utterances used in risk communication messages for COVID-19 in Lagos State, Nigeria. COVID-19 pandemic poses a threat to the sustainability of public well-being globally. Hence, risk communication is becoming a plausible tool in curbing the spread of the virus. Existing studies have largely focused on clinical analysis for Covid-19, to the neglect of indigenous language risk communication interventions. In addition, to determine whether perceived panic resulting from exposure to indigenous language information on COVID-19 cases interferes with respondents’ comprehension of risk communication messages in Lagos state. The study employed the mixed methods of content analysis and survey to examine three indigenous language jingles. Four hundred respondents were also randomly selected for this study. The study found that indigenous language risk messages focused majorly on preventive measures while paying minimal attention to important factors such as COVID-19 causes, symptoms, and curative measures. Furthermore, the study revealed that unwholesome risk perceptions led to 52.8% of respondents paying little attention to indigenous language risk managers. Thus, the study advocates for the adoption of the COVID-19 Risk Communication Phases Model developed during the study.

Estimating spatially varying health effects of wildland fire smoke using mobile health data.

Wildland fire smoke exposures are an increasing threat to public health, highlighting the need for studying the effects of protective behaviours on reducing health outcomes. Emerging smartphone applications provide unprecedented opportunities to deliver health risk communication messages to a large number of individuals in real-time and subsequently study the effectiveness, but also pose methodological challenges. Smoke Sense, a citizen science project, provides an interactive smartphone app platform for participants to engage with information about air quality, and ways to record their own health symptoms and actions taken to reduce smoke exposure. We propose a doubly robust estimator of the structural nested mean model that accounts for spatially and time-varying effects via a local estimating equation approach with geographical kernel weighting. Moreover, our analytical framework also handles informative missingness by inverse probability weighting of estimating functions. We evaluate the method using extensive simulation studies and apply it to Smoke Sense data to increase the knowledge base about the relationship between health preventive measures and health-related outcomes. Our results show that the protective behaviours' effects vary over space and time and find that protective behaviours have more significant effects on reducing health symptoms in the Southwest than the Northwest region of the U.S.

Watching the disaster unfold: geographies of engagement with live-streamed extreme weather

ABSTRACT An increasing number of Extreme Weather Events (EWEs) – including storms and hurricanes – are now being live-streamed on websites such as YouTube. These streams often repurpose existing webcam infrastructure to generate channels that host footage of extreme weather and subsequent damage. Despite evidence of increasing popularity (with streams sometimes generating hundreds of thousands of simultaneous viewers) they are yet to be critically examined. This paper offers the first exploration of these streams by examining how commentors utilise them as opportunities for hazard engagement, sense-making and witnessing. The study analyses data from streams of three events: Hurricane Irma (2017), Hurricane Ian (2022) and the ‘2022 UK Storms’ (Dudley, Eunice and Franklin). In doing so, I evidence that these streams can operate as spaces where attachments and (dis)connections to affected places are imagined and performed. In particular, I draw attention towards viewers who watch streams in their entirety (sometimes 8–24 hours), and whose commitments to the mundaneness of ‘weather watching’ are considered as performances of support and solidarity. The paper concludes by calling for further research that examines the role of informal or ad-hoc virtual spaces that enable (i) engagement with changing places and/or (ii) the sharing/contestation of risk communication messaging.

Promoting voluntary risk detection behaviour: an intervention study based on trending social norms combined with emotional appeals

Well-owners are exposed to substantial health risks but rarely test their water and infrequently maintain their wells. We designed and tested an intervention aimed to promote voluntairy risk detection behavioiur. The intervention was based on a trending social norm message (suggesting an increasing trend of well-owners testing their wells) with emotional appeals. Two emotional appeals were used: fear frames (an indication of the severity of the risk) and worry appeals (indication of how many well-owners worried about contamination risks). In an online experiment, 262 Irish private well-owners were randomly allocated to six different risk communication messages that followed the design described above. The results showed a trending social norm message combined with a strong worry appraisal primarily raised levels of worry which, in turn, influenced attitudes towards water testing and behavioural intentions to maintain wells. Our results illustrate the potential of stressing a trending social norm and worry appraisal to promote voluntary risk detection behaviours.

Earthquake recommendations in Europe: Types and diversity

Disaster literature agrees that knowledge alone is insufficient to promote the adoption of preparedness by populations. Nevertheless, this is a prerequisite for initiating behaviour. Governments and Civil Protection authorities are among the multiple sources of information on preparedness and appropriate disaster behaviours. If these sources are trusted, members of the public will accept the information they transmit. However, few studies have addressed the content of risk communication messages from European authorities. We analysed and discussed the frequency and diversity of household earthquake preparedness and response measures recommended by European Civil Protection authorities in countries exposed to seismic risk, using 84 official website documents and texts from 25 countries. Authorities highly recommended behaviours to apply during an earthquake, focusing on physical protection and conforming to the literature. However, official recommendations weakly recommended planning measures, a well-established preparedness component in the literature. Furthermore, authorities failed to reinforce skill acquisition, insurance acquisition, structural mitigation, and other mitigation measures. Nevertheless, non-structural mitigation was highly advised and was more frequent than stockpiling recommendations. The results also pointed to concerns about the behaviour of residents during and after an earthquake, misinformation, and to the diversity of measures in each country, disagreeing with previous research. Local differences and factors related to the process of selecting recommendations may explain the results. This study contributes to the literature on earthquake recommendations, risk communication, household preparedness and response, and practical applications of preparedness and response literature.

Preventing Zoonoses: Testing an Intervention to Change Attitudes and Behaviors toward More Protective Actions.

Zoonotic outbreaks are considered one of the most important threats to public health. Therefore, it is important to educate people on how to prevent zoonotic infections. The purpose of this research was to investigate an intervention aimed at changing people's attitudes and behaviors toward more protective actions. In two studies (NStudy1 = 402; NStudy2 = 706), participants received an intervention based on previous literature in which knowledge about zoonoses, protective actions they could take, and a fear appeal were provided. In the control condition, no intervention was given. Subsequently, we measured participants' risk knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions to reduce zoonotic risks, and fear. The results showed that the intervention heightened participants' zoonotic knowledge and affected their attitudes and behavioral intentions (Studies 1 and 2) and a behavioral decision (Study 2) to reduce zoonotic risks. Moreover, our designed intervention proved more effective than the World Health Organization informative message on zoonoses (Study 2). In terms of theory, this is the first experimental demonstration that a general zoonotic risk communication message changed attitudes and behaviors toward more protective actions. In terms of policy, this research showed that a basic information message for the broader public has the potential to reduce zoonotic risks.

Embedding Software Engineering in Mixed Methods Research: Computationally Enhanced Risk Communication

Mixed methods research ameliorates many convergent research challenges within the contemporary sociotechnical landscape. We suggest the integration of software engineering in mixed methods research is a critical step to address some of the remaining and persistent challenges. One such research challenge where computational science is particularly well suited is in hazard preparedness—in particular, the creation of risk communication messages to mitigate or to prevent harm. Computationally enhanced risk communication is convergent research that integrates software engineering and social science research for the benefit of protecting humans and infrastructure. To this end, we developed a mixed methods framework for the efficient construction of risk communication messages. We call this the Domain Agnostic Risk Communication (DARC) framework and present it here. The DARC framework formalizes connections between computational science and social science methods. It incorporates the best available science in risk communication research and a cadre of natural language processing techniques to impart validity, reliability, and precision into resultant messages. The DARC framework is highly modular owing to the incorporation of the software engineering principles of abstraction, extensibility, and encapsulation. Although the focus of this position article is on risk communication, we encourage the incorporation of software engineering into mixed methods research and the incorporation of mixed methods more broadly into software engineering experimentation.

Perceived public alarm and comprehension of risk communication messages about Lassa fever in Nigeria: a gauge of the risk communication model

IntroductionLassa fever constitutes a threat to the public health system in Nigeria with the reoccurring annual epidemics and its attendant risk communication intervention challenges.ObjectiveThis study examined the influence of public alarm (if any) on respondents' comprehension of risk communication messages about the most common host of the Lassa virus, modes of transmission, risk factors, and protective measures for Lassa fever. The risk communication model (mental noise hypothesis) served as the benchmark for measuring respondents' perceptions in the most endemic states in Nigeria.MethodThe study adopted a quantitative approach, using the survey method. Data for this study were collected from 653 respondents through a structured questionnaire. Respondents were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Frequency tables were used to profile the respondents' characteristics and key variables while regression coefficients were used to draw inferences.ResultsThe study found a high level of perceived public alarm among the respondents but maximum attention was paid to risk communication messages amid the high level of anxiety. Knowledge of the common Lassa virus-host, modes of transmission, risk factors, and risk reduction measures was adequate irrespective of the high level of perceived public alarm. Public alarm significantly influenced audience comprehension of the risk information about Lassa fever in Ebonyi and Ondo at r2 = 0.040 and 0.076, at p < 0.05 but not in Edo state at r2 = 0.010, at p > 0.05.ConclusionThe authors conclude that devoting adequate attention to outbreak communication messages amid a high level of anxiety could lead to improved knowledge of infectious diseases.

Mapping mental models of parents’ risk perceptions of autonomous public transport use by young children: a social representations theory approach

Numerous countries are integrating autonomous vehicles into their public transport systems. Among the expected benefits of autonomous public transport, increased mobility for families with young children is foregrounded. Yet, the potential risks associated with autonomous public transport may impede parents’ acceptance of the technology for use by their children. As risk communication is an effective strategy for mitigating the influence of risk perception on acceptance, this study sought to proactively identify risk perceptions that parents hold toward autonomous public transport. Against the backdrop of Singapore’s imminent deployment of autonomous public transport and informed by the social representations theory, we elicited a mental model of parents’ risk perceptions toward autonomous public transport that was sensitive to the diversity of opinion among parents and their preferences for risk communication messages about autonomous public transport. To that end, we conducted three online focus group discussions consisting of 21 Singaporean parents who had children aged 2 wk to 12 years old. Theoretically, this study addresses research gaps in the mental models literature and offers theoretical implications for scholars seeking to employ the mental models approach to understand lay risk perceptions. Practically, this study informs the design of relevant and targeted risk communication messages about autonomous public transport.

Climate Risk Communication in Tourism Destinations in Siruma, Camarines Sur, Philippines

Climate risk communication is an important early warning tool for an upcoming disaster. It prepares the locals to decide and act appropriately to save lives and properties. This study primarily described climate risk communication in tourism destinations in Siruma, Camarines Sur. Specifically, it aimed to 1.) identify the sources and severity of risks in tourism in the locality, 2.) find out how these risks are communicated in the locality, 3.) determine how the locals perceive these risk communication measures, and 4.) recommend some measures to improve risk communication. Using Qualitative Research Design, data were gathered through Focus Group Discussion and Key Informant Interview. Seventeen (17) participants shared their experiences, thoughts, and opinions on climate risk information, risk communication strategies, problems encountered, and risk perception. FGD result shows that the four risks experienced by the locals for the last five years were typhoons, heavy rainfall and flooding, storm surge, and temperature extreme which is El Nino phenomenon. The most severe at level 4 was Typhoon Ulysses in 2020.The primary source of the climate risks are the Local DRRM Officer in coordination with Barangay Officials and the Philippine National Police through house-to-house visits and two-way radio. It was observed that despite the abundance of risk information, some locals refuse orders for preventive evacuation mainly because they do not perceive the risk due to some not credible sources and unpersuasive messages. Focused and directed risk communication messages can help them perceive upcoming risk to behave positively. The study recommends that LGU Siruma may draft and implement a Climate Risk Communication Plan that will include communication strategies using various media with focused messages, skills trainings on communicating risk messages, trainings on value formation, and enhancing internet connectivity in Siruma.

“When people see me, they know me; they trust what I say”: characterizing the role of trusted sources for smoke risk communication in the Okanogan River Airshed Emphasis Area

IntroductionAs wildfire smoke events increase in intensity and frequency in the Pacific Northwest, there is a growing need for effective communication on the health risks of smoke exposure. Delivery through a trusted source or intermediary has been shown to improve reception of risk communication messages. This is especially salient in rural and tribal communities who may be hesitant to trust information from state and federal agency sources. This study aims to identify and characterize trusted sources for smoke risk information in the Okanogan River Airshed Emphasis Area (ORAEA), a rural region of North Central Washington state that is heavily impacted by smoke from wildfires and prescribed fire.MethodsThe research team conducted a qualitative study using data collected through key informant interviews and focus groups to assess the role of various sources and intermediaries in disseminating smoke risk information. We used a consensual coding approach in NVivo Qualitative Analysis Software to sort data into preliminary categories, which were grouped into themes using a thematic analysis approach. We used member checking and iterative feedback processes with local project partners throughout the project to ensure credibility of results.ResultsThrough the analysis, we identified three themes characterizing trusted sources for smoke risk communication in the ORAEA. These themes were: (1) local and tribal sources of information are perceived as more trustworthy than state and federal government sources, (2) trustworthiness is determined by an evaluation of multiple factors, in particular, perceived credibility, quality of information, and relationship with the source, and (3) conservative political ideology and perceived parallels with COVID-19 communication influence perception of trust. Within each theme, we identified several sub-themes, which contributed additional nuance to our analysis.ConclusionThis study provides insights into which sources of information are trusted by rural and tribal community members in the ORAEA and why. Results from our study emphasize the importance of relationships and collaboration with local and tribal partners in smoke risk communication. In this paper, we discuss implications for state and federal agency practitioners and present recommendations for how to work with local and tribal partners on smoke risk communication.

Understanding sexual transmission dynamics and transmission contexts of monkeypox virus: a mixed-methods study of the early outbreak in Belgium (May–June 2022)

ObjectiveThe available epidemiological and clinical evidence from the currently ongoing monkeypox (MPX) outbreak in non-endemic areas suggests an important factor of sexual transmission. However, limited information on the behaviour and...

Residents' perception and worldview about radon control policy in Canada: A pro-equity social justice lens.

Radon is a potent indoor air pollutant, especially in radon prone areas and in countries with long winters. As the second top lung carcinogen, radon is disproportionately affecting certain population subgroups. While many provinces have taken sporadic actions, the equity issue has remained unaddressed across all policy measures. Attempts to enforce radon guidelines and enact building regulations without considering residents' views have proved ineffective. Research linking residents' radon risk perception and worldviews regarding radon control policy is lacking in Canada. We applied mixed (quantitative and qualitative) methods in a pro-equity social justice lens to examine the variations in residents' risk perception, access to risk communication messages, and worldviews about risk management across the sociodemographic strata. Triangulation of the quantitative and qualitative findings strengthened the evidence base to identify challenges and potential solutions in addressing the health risk through upstream policy actions. Enacting radon control policy requires actions from all levels of governments and relevant stakeholders to ensure equal opportunities for all residents to take the preventive and adaptive measures. Small sample size limited the scope of findings for generalization. Future studies can examine the differential impacts of radon health risk as are determined by various sociodemographic variables in a representative national cohort.

Effectiveness and quality of risk communication process in Ethiopia: The case of risk communication during cholera outbreak in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

BackgroundWHO states risk communication as the conversation of actual information, guidance, and thoughts between specialists and people fronting risks to their well-being, economic or social safety. As risk communication activities are complex and costly usually, evaluation assessment are the best approach to advance risk communication interventions. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of risk communication and the quality of health communication materials developed during the 2019 cholera outbreak at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.MethodsA community-based parallel mixed design was conducted from May to June 2020 at Addis Ababa. A total of 605 adults were selected randomly from Addis Ketema sub-city and ten purposely selected adults were interviewed for qualitative data. In addition eight health communication materials on cholera were randomly selected for evaluation. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. After audio recorded interviews transcribed verbatim and translated into English the qualitative data were entered into open code version 4.02 for analysis. And then the data were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultRespondents exposed for cholera related messages and outbreak information were 71.8% and 52.7% respectively. Respondents have moderate knowledge for cholera with (M = 14.72 and SD ±4.02) with (0–34) scale range. Both Television and radio spots were found as simple and easy to understand and printed health communication materials score low quality. Poor documentation, lack of data management system and less attention for risk communication activities were identified as a gaps in risk communication in the study settings.Conclusionthis study revealed the positive effects of risk communication messages in increasing individuals’ knowledge. Even though the risk communication spots were found to be simple and easy to understand, the quality of printed materials was low and less attention was given for the risk-communication activities. Thus, strengthening the quality of risk communication and materials development process is very important to bring desired effects in disease prevention strategies and for effective emergency responses in the future.

Risk communication during infectious diseases pandemics

Communication of risk is a central part of any policy for public health safety. Risk Communication notifies guides and trains the public, empowering them to make well-informed choices about the actions they will take based on the risks they possibly face. However, effectively communicating risk is a complex and challenging process. This review has been made to help public service organizations put themselves in the best situation to effectively communicate risk to the populations they serve. It has a special focus on media, through which many risk communication messages reach the public. Risk communication is an important issue in current COVID-19 pandemic.

To Warn or Not to Warn: Factors Influencing National Weather Service Warning Meteorologists’ Tornado Warning Decisions

Abstract Weather warnings are critical risk communication messages because they have the potential to save lives and property during emergencies. However, making warning decisions is challenging. While there have been significant advances in technological weather forecasting, recent research suggests that social factors, including communication, influence warning meteorologists’ decisions to warn. We examine the roles of both scientific and social factors in predicting warning meteorologists’ decisions to warn on tornadoes. To do so, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of National Weather Service forecasters and members of management in the southern and the central regions of the United States, as well as conducted a retrospective data analysis of cross-sectional survey data from the central region Tornado Warning Improvement Project. Results reveal that dependency on radar velocity couplet and a variety of social factors predicted decisions to warn.

Health Promotion and Education: Foundations for Changing Health Behavior

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has reemphasized the criticality of human behaviors and led to an enormous focus on health promotion and risk communication messaging; ‘COVID appropriate behavior’ is indeed a household term now. Dedicated or specialist health promotion professionals and scholars are few and far between and the author, Professor Madhumita Dobe, is both a pioneer and icon to generations of public health students and researchers. She has authored this book, filling up a much-needed void in this discipline. As she has acknowledged, this book is the culmination of a lifetime of teaching, research and practice at the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata and her rich experience across the states of India and several countries.

The Role and Impact of Faith-Based Organisations in the Management of and Response to COVID-19 in Low-Resource Settings

Abstract The COVID-19 crisis is affecting millions of lives and has wreaked some of its greatest havoc and suffering among the vulnerable and marginalised populations of the world, many of whom belong to religious and faith-based communities. In times of crisis and difficulty, religion and faith are a source of hope and strength for many. In this paper, we underscore the critical role and impact that some faith-based organisations have had in the pandemic crisis response and management of three countries: Brazil, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. In Brazil, Pastoral da Criança is leveraging their mobile phone application to fight mis-information about COVID-19. In Indonesia, Muhammadiyah launched a COVID-19 command centre to support treatment in hospitals, to disseminate guidelines for religious activities backed by science, and to provide water, sanitation and hygiene packages, food and financial support to the most vulnerable and neglected. In Sri Lanka, Sarvodaya is working closely with religious and community leaders on risk communication and community engagement messages and is also providing hygiene care and economic relief packages to the marginalised. We further discuss some of the challenges these organisations have faced and propose recommendations for greater engagement with this group of global public health actors to maximise their contributions and impact in the crisis management of and response to future infectious disease outbreaks, epidemics or pandemics in low-resource settings.

Insights into Improving Risk and Safety Communication through Environmental Health Literacy.

Messages and materials developed to communicate risk to the public are often misunderstood because the public misperceives risk, science information is too complex, leading to audience misunderstandings, and an overarching focus on the details of the problem without supplying solutions or actions to keep the public safe. This article describes the creation of a communication model to improve risk communication that includes safety information. The authors describe essential components of Risk and Safety Communication based on features of Environmental Health Literacy (EHL), which informed the creation of a protocol for developing risk communication messages and materials. An online training module was developed to aid communicators in creating information to enable the public to protect themselves, their family, and their community, leading to improved comprehension of how the environment impacts health. These principles were developed in a series of focus groups, identifying how the public perceives risk, how they prefer to receive communication, and how participants respond to materials developed using the principles. Important topics discussed are understanding the literacy levels of the target audience, applying that understanding to developing messages, how risk perception leads to misperceptions and how to address those misperceptions by using plain language when developing focused messages and materials.