Risk Communication Strategies Research Articles

Association between Self-Classification of COVID-19 Risk Levels and Adverse Lifestyle Changes among Physically Active Older Adults Following the Coronavirus Outbreak.

The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed barriers to a healthy lifestyle, especially for older adults who are considered to be at a high-risk of infection. This study examined the associations between negative changes and the self-classification to COVID-19 risk level among physically active older adults who are members of a nationwide health club chain. A cross-sectional digital survey was sent to 19,160 older adults (age ≥ 65). The data collected included information on the subjects’ self-classification to the COVID-19 high-risk group (HRG) and changes in physical activity (PA), body weight, and smoking habits since the outbreak. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between the dependent variables of ‘experienced a negative change’ and the independent variables. Of the 1670 survey respondents, 78.3% classified themselves as COVID-19 HRG. Over half of the respondents reported a reduction in PA hours, 26.6% reported weight gain, and 17.7% of smokers increased their amount of smoking. A self-classification to the HRG was associated with 1.46 (95%CI 1.10–1.93, p < 0.009) and 1.67 (95%CI 1.21–2.31, p < 0.002) greater odds for reduced hours of exercise and weight gain compared to the not high-risk group, respectively. Decision makers should consider how policies may cause barriers to a healthy lifestyle and develop risk communication strategies to encourage positive health-related behaviors, even during a pandemic.

State of emergency and human mobility during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan

IntroductionThe Japanese government declared a state of emergency (SoE) to control the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, the requirements of these SoE were less stringent than those in other nations. It has not been assessed whether soft containment policies were sufficiently effective in the promotion of social distancing or the reduction of human contact. MethodsMobility changes across different travel destinations, such as, (a) retail and recreation spaces; (b) supermarkets and pharmacies; (c) parks; (d) public transportation; (e) workplaces; and (f) residential areas, were analysed using the Google mobility index to assess social distancing behaviour in all Japanese prefectures between 15 February 2020 and 21 September 2021. The changes were evaluated through the utilisation of an interrupted time-series analysis after adjustment for seasonality and various prefecture-specific fixed-effects, and distinguishment of potential heterogeneity across multiple SoEs and the time that had passed after the declaration. ResultsThe mobility index for retail and recreation exhibited an immediate decline of 7.94 percent-points (95%CI: −8.77 to −7.12) after the declaration of the SoE, and a further decline after the initial period (beta: −1.27 95%CI: −1.43 to −1.11). However, it gradually increased by 0.03 percent-points (95%CI: 0.02–0.03). This trend was similar for mobility in other places. Among the four SoEs, the overall decline in human mobility outside the home was the least significant in the third and fourth SoE, which suggests that people were less compliant with social distancing measures during these periods. ConclusionsAlthough government responses to the pandemic may aid the controlling of human mobility outside the home, their effectiveness may decrease if these interventions are repeated and enforced for extended periods. A combination of these with other measures (i.e. risk-communication strategies) would enable even mild containment and closure policies to effectively curb the spread of the virus.

Risk communication and community engagement – unlocking the key to South Africa’s response to SARS-CoV-2

Background. COVID-19 has changed the way that governments communicate and engage with citizens. In emergencies, effective communication must be immediate, grounded in science, transparent, easy to understand and in language-appropriate messaging delivered through multiple and varied platforms. For the South African (SA) COVID-19 response, the intent was to design an agile, locally relevant Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) strategy as the pandemic was unfolding and to constantly evaluate its implementation. Early involvement of communities in the formulation and direction of a risk communication plan is essential to its success. Objective. To outline the significance of the RCCE’s robust communication strategy during the COVID-19 response and the lessons learnt in executing the strategy. Methods. This is a qualitative review of documents and reports generated and utilised by the RCCE Technical Working Group (TWG) and reflects the lessons learnt from discussions and multiple engagements at district, provincial and national levels. The review incorporates lessons learnt from international practice, resource documents from the World Health Organization (WHO), RCCE readiness and response to coronavirus disease, feedback from the Behavioural Science Ministerial Advisory Committee, input from the call centre, website and various established social media platforms. Results. Communication and building trust with multiple stakeholders begin before an outbreak and is a prerequisite to facilitate the timeous flow of information, particularly in the context of a rapidly evolving outbreak of a new disease, where the scientific community does not immediately have all the answers. Initial COVID-19 messages were therefore filled with challenges that ranged from the lack of scientific and epidemiological information to rumours, conspiracy theories and misinformation. The findings validate that empowering communities to act, strengthening public trust and community participation using multiple channels as well as timely responses to rumours and misinformation are important drivers of COVID-19 communication efforts in SA. Communication efforts must be accelerated to translate science into locally relevant languages and the impact of interventions must be measured to appropriately direct limited resources. Conclusion. The risk communication strategy incorporated several key lessons that could be used to improve communication and inform future emergency response communication that is immediate, science-based, transparent, inclusive and encourages community participation.

Analyzing Risk Communication, Trust, Risk Perception, Negative Emotions, and Behavioral Coping Strategies During the COVID-19 Pandemic in China Using a Structural Equation Model.

ObjectiveRisk communication and the degree of trust are major factors that affect the public's behavioral coping strategies and play an important role in emergency risk management. However, the internal formation mechanism involved in the public's psychological behavior remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association among risk communication, trust, risk perception, negative emotions, and behavioral coping strategies during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and to identify and quantify the factors that influence public behavior.MethodsWe launched an online survey through social media from April to July 2020 in China. Relevant data were elicited using a self-designed questionnaire that mainly examined respondent characteristics, risk communication, trust, risk perception, negative emotions, protective coping behavior, and excessive coping behavior in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 735 valid responses were obtained. A structural equation model was then used to explore relationship pathways among the components.ResultsThe higher the degree of risk communication (β = −0.10, p < 0.05) and trust (β = −0.22, p < 0.001), the lower the public risk perception. Risk communication and trust had a direct effect on public behavioral coping strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The higher the level of risk communication (β = 0.14, p < 0.001) or trust (β = 0.48, p < 0.001), the more likely it was that this would encourage the public to adopt protective coping behaviors, while the public was less likely to engage in excessive coping behaviors as the degree of trust increased (β = −0.12, p < 0.01). Risk perception influenced by poor risk communication and trust generated negative emotions (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), and such negative emotions further positively influenced public behavioral coping strategies (whether protective [β = 0.09, p < 0.05] or excessive [β = 0.24, p < 0.001] behaviors).ConclusionRisk communication, trust, risk perception, and negative emotions were significantly directly or indirectly related to public behavior. The findings provide useful information for emergency risk management and a theoretical basis for follow-up research on public coping behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perceived cardiovascular disease risk and tailored communication strategies among rural and urban community dwellers in Rwanda: a qualitative study

BackgroundIn Rwanda, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the third leading cause of death, and hence constitute an important public health issue. Worldwide, most CVDs are due to lifestyle and preventable risk factors. Prevention interventions are based on risk factors for CVD risk, yet the outcome of such interventions might be limited by the lack of awareness or misconception of CVD risk. This study aimed to explore how rural and urban population groups in Rwanda perceive CVD risk and tailor communication strategies for estimated total cardiovascular risk.MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study design was applied using focus group discussions to collect data from rural and urban community dwellers. In total, 65 community members took part in this study. Thematic analysis with Atlas ti 7.5.18 was used and the main findings for each theme were reported as a narrative summary.ResultsParticipants thought that CVD risk is due to either financial stress, psychosocial stress, substance abuse, noise pollution, unhealthy diets, diabetes or overworking. Participants did not understand CVD risk presented in a quantitative format, but preferred qualitative formats or colours to represent low, moderate and high CVD risk through in-person communication. Participants preferred to be screened for CVD risk by community health workers using mobile health technology.ConclusionRural and urban community members in Rwanda are aware of what could potentially put them at CVD risk in their respective local communities. Community health workers are preferred by local communities for CVD risk screening. Quantitative formats to present the total CVD risk appear inappropriate to the Rwandan population and qualitative formats are therefore advisable. Thus, operational research on the use of qualitative formats to communicate CVD risk is recommended to improve decision-making on CVD risk communication in the context of Rwanda.

Risk perception of food chemicals and technologies in the Midwest of Brazil: A population-based cross-sectional survey

This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the risk perception of three different population groups in the Federal District, Midwest Brazil, regarding chemical and technological risks related to food. An objective questionnaire was applied from May 2018 to January 2020 to 1,000 individuals in supermarkets, universities (only students) and hospitals/clinics. Risk perception was assessed through five general questions, and the degree of worry regarding 11 food-related hazards measured by a three-point scale (low, medium and high). The impact of belonging to a group and of sociodemographic variables on the worry level was assessed by multinomial logistic regression and expressed as Odds Ratio (OR). Over 80% of the participants had high or medium worry level about the presence of chemicals in food, hospital/clinic group having significantly higher level than the university group. Heavy metals had a significant higher worry score than all other hazards (2.76 ± 0.55) and was the only hazard that was not impacted by the group or any sociodemographic variable. Nanotechnology had a significantly lower score than all others hazards and, along with mycotoxins, was the most unfamiliar term to the respondents. In the adjusted multinomial model, older individuals, those interviewed in hospital/clinic, and women showed significantly greater risk perception to most hazards. Income and education exerted less effect, except for the technologies, which significantly caused more worry among individuals with lower income and/or education. The results of this study can help government authorities in the implementation of effective risk communication strategies aimed at different population segments.

Relationship among Job environment, Job engagement and Presenteeism of Elite Taekwondo Instructor

The purpose of this study is to investigate the causal relationship between management orientation and management performance by combining the crisis communication strategy of Taekwondo managers with SNS. A total of 193 samples were sampled from January 3 to February 25, 2022 for Taekwondo managers located in the Chungcheong area, frequency analysis confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and structural model were performed through SPSS and AMOS. First, hypotheses 1-3 were adopted as the risk communication strategy had a positive (+) effect on management orientation. Second, Hypothesis 2 was adopted as that management orientation has a positive (+) effect on management performance. Third, crisis communication strategy was found to have a positive (+) effect on business performance. Therefore, Hypothesis 3-1, 3 were adopted. The characteristics of SNS were revealed through the research results in that they can derive meaningful results in a crisis situation.

English

Effective crisis communication on social media targets and tailor&rsquo;s crisis information to influence risk perception and ensures messages are accepted. The aim of the current research is to map the research available and summarize key findings of the guiding principles and strategies for social media-based risk and crisis communication during emerging infectious diseases. North American-focused literature assessing risk and crisis communication via social media during emerging infectious diseases between 2009 and 2021 was obtained and examined. From an analysis of 52 sources, we identified five descriptive themes related to the characteristics associated with the receiver of crisis messages, the source of crisis messages, and characteristics associated with increased message acceptance and uptake on social media platforms. The current review builds on prior reviews through the inclusion of additional qualitative studies incorporating public perspectives. The majority of included sources were quantitative U.S. studies focused on COVID-19. We found that social media attributes, features, and analytics can be used to enable interaction, promote amplification of crisis messages, and to better understand the information needs of various subpopulations. Additional research is needed to better understand how to effectively communicate via social media to subpopulations impacted by emerging infectious disease. Key words: Crisis communication, risk communication, social media, emerging infectious disease, COVID-19, guiding principles.

Modeling of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome.

Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome is an infection caused by rodents of the Bunyanvirales family towards humans. This disease in Chile is considered endemic, which has a high fatality rate. At present, some studies show the contagion between people of the Andes virus, whose locality is concentrated in Argentina and Chile. Analyze the possibility of hantavirus transmission between humans using an SEIR-type mathematical model. An SEIR (Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious and Recovered) mathematical model to express the dynamics of hantavirus disease is proposed, including the possibility of human-to-human transmission and the perception of risk. The peak of human-to-human contagion decreases by about 25% after increasing peoples perception of risk by reducing the rate of resistance to changeand increasing the speed of peoples reaction. It is urgent to review risk communication strategies and prevention measures in the face of this possibility of massive human-tohuman infections, in addition to strengthening research and planning the development of a vaccine to protect populations exposed to this disease with a high fatality rate.

Communicating Risk in Glacier Tourism: A Case Study of the Svínafellsheiði Fracture in Iceland

Every day in early summer 2018, an estimated 1000 tourists went on guided tours of Svínafellsjökull, an outlet glacier in southeast Iceland. However, this changed on 22 June 2018, when a warning was issued against glacial travel due to the risk of a large landslide caused by a fracture in the surrounding mountainside. Tourists often entrust tourism employees with responsibility for their safety; however, there is a dearth of research into the ways in which tourism employees receive and respond to risk communication. These dynamics were explored in this ethnographic study, which drew on 50 semistructured interviews and extensive participant observation. The results indicate that despite demographic shifts, Icelandic inhabitants remain the basic unit on which risk management processes are centered, with repercussions for the ways in which exposure is calculated and risk is communicated. Tourists and tourism employees have a limited understanding of the risk and emergency protocols compared with local inhabitants. We argue that, for their own safety and that of customers, risk communication needs to be tailored to the needs of tourism employees, including guides and hospitality workers. The recommendations that emerge from this research can guide risk communication strategies in other mountainous regions of the world where tourism is an important source of livelihoods.

Mass email risk communication: Lessons learned from COVID-19-triggered campus-wide evictions in Canada and the United States.

From an out-of-province/state and international post-secondary student perspective, this article (a) explores mass email risk communication facilitation during the COVID-19-triggered campus-wide evictions in Canada and the United States; and (b) develops relative recommendations to improve mass email risk communication strategies for future emergency response. Investigating mass email risk communication-related impacts on students in a tertiary educational context has revealed a significant deficit in emergency response research, practice, and policymaking. Mandatory temporary university and college closures during the COVID-19 first wave provided an opportunity to address this research and practice deficit, as most Canadian and American universities/colleges administered their eviction communication via daily mass email chains. Through a phenomenological lens, this study interviewed twenty out-of-province/state and international students, ten from each country respectively, to examine student eviction experiences associated with intensive mass email risk communication. This research identified four factors linked to mass email risk communication: email chain characteristics, student interpretation, interdepartmental cooperation, and frontline voices. Synthesizing these findings, four evidence-based recommendations were developed: to efficiently convey risk information to students, to understand student perceptions and to inform their behaviors, to enhance interdepartmental cooperation, and to enable mutual dialogue in decision making. These recommendations could assist post-secondary institutions, and other organizations, in strengthening their mass email risk communication strategies and advancing organizational emergency response plans for future extreme events.

Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination intent in Singapore, Australia and Hong Kong

BackgroundCOVID-19 pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality globally. As vaccines have been developed under expedited conditions, their safety and efficacy are being questioned by some populations leading to vaccine hesitancy, resulting in delayed vaccine uptake and herd immunity. This study aims to adopt a combination of Health Belief Model and other independent risk factors associated with high vaccine acceptance. MethodsAn anonymized cross-sectional survey was distributed between 15 January and 3 February 2021 across Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia among adult respondents through a certified online panel. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were carried out to assess perception constructs followed by multivariate regression modelling to assess factors associated with high vaccine acceptance against SARS_CoV-2. ResultsA total of 3,133 anonymised participants from Singapore (n = 1,009), Australia (n = 1,118) and Hong Kong (n = 1,006) completed the survey. While age and gender were not significantly associated, Asian ethnicity, current smokers and self-efficacy were significant associated factors of increased vaccine acceptance. While specific practices like taking micronutrients more frequently, cleaning and disinfecting their house more often were positively associated with increased vaccine acceptance, seeking medical help for COVID-19 symptoms like loss of smell/taste and overall COVID-19 knowledge score were negatively associated. Increased likelihood of vaccine acceptance was seen among those that obtained COVID-19 information less frequently and used digital media or non-health-related sources like influencers as a source of information. Among the eight perception constructs, perceived susceptibility and perceived response efficacy were positively associated, while perceived barriers were negatively associated with high vaccine acceptance. ConclusionWhile demographic parameters have weak association with vaccine acceptance, perceptions and practices parameters can help to better understand and influence vaccine acceptance. Study findings should provide guidance on the risk communication strategy to enhance vaccine acceptance for vaccination and boosters against new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Risk communication and capacity-building: A case study on framing CBA strategies of artisanal fishing communities to sea-level rise using BASIEC

Accelerated rise in sea levels due to changing climate threatens the communities located in the low-lying coastal regions. Small-scale fishing communities such as artisanal fishing communities are vulnerable to the risk of sea-level rise. Climate services are considered to be effective instruments to communicate such risks and enhance the capacity of local communities. However, the application of climate services to build capacities of artisanal fishing communities remains sparse. In this context, this study attempted to address the risk of rising sea levels and building capacity of artisanal fishing communities of Ennore region in Chennai situated on the east coast of India, as a case study. The study has addressed the following research questions: What sea-level rise risk information is required? How should it be communicated effectively? and how efficiently climate services can be utilized to enhance the capacities of communities to rising sea levels? BASIEC coastal climate service framework methodology has been adopted. Sea-level rise risk campaign and adaptation workshops were served as climate service platforms to create awareness through narratives and visualization techniques as risk information, communication and education strategies. By adopting participatory techniques such as citizen science and pair-wise ranking methods, the study has identified and prioritized community-based adaptation strategies to sea-level rise. As a climate service, this case study provides a model to communicate the sea-level rise risk and build capacities of artisanal fishing communities in adaptation decision-making. The approach and methodology of this study are valuable for facilitating climate services to empower coastal communities.

Living With Fire and the Need for Diversity

AbstractThe 2018–2021 wildfire seasons were a glimpse of the future: deadly damaging fires in Mediterranean regions and high fire activity outside the typical fire season, also in temperate and boreal areas. This challenge cannot be solved with the traditional mono‐disciplinary approach of fire suppression. There is a critical need to change fire management from fire resistance to landscape resilience: Living with fire. Climate change thereby creates an urgency for understanding the integrated drivers of fire impacts and risks, and for designing creative and effective risk reduction, management and communication strategies. We argue that achieving this integrated fire management requires inter‐ and transdisciplinary research based on four axes of diversity: combining cross‐geography, cross‐risk, and cross‐sector approaches while embracing social diversity. This requires a new way of training our future experts, a broader way of defining scientific excellence, and stimulation of opportunities for people from various disciplines and sectors to meet and learn.

Helping Patients Understand and Cope with BRCA Mutations.

Purpose of ReviewIndividuals carrying germline mutations in BRCA1/2 have unique psychosocial and educational needs that must be met to ensure informed clinical decision-making. In this review, we highlight the strategies used in clinical practice to support patients’ needs as well as currently available pre- and post-disclosure support interventions.Recent FindingsClinical risk communication is complicated by the uncertainty associated with gene penetrance, inconclusive results, variable effectiveness of surgical and screening interventions, and inadequate awareness of clinical genetics. Interventions to support patients’ psychosocial needs, and strategies for effective and scalable clinical risk communication are in routine use and largely effective at meeting patients’ needs. Research is underway to develop newer supportive resources; however, the inadequate representation of all mutation carriers persists.SummaryEffective clinical risk communication strategies, decision support aids, written educational materials, and supportive psychosocial tools can together have a large impact on meeting BRCA carriers’ supportive needs.

Fostering compliance with COVID-19 guidelines: insights for risk communication strategies during a pandemic

ABSTRACT To prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, health organizations must employ effective risk communication. Specifically, it is critical for public health organizations to identify factors affecting citizens’ compliance behaviors. Focusing on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States’ national public health agency, this study advanced a theoretical framework predicting Americans’ social-distancing behavior and compliance with general CDC guidelines. Accordingly, we explored the theory of planned behavior (TPB), fatalism, and optimism with respect to public perceptions of COVID-19 and individuals’ beliefs about organizations (i.e., organizational efficacy and CDC reputation). The results of our online survey (N = 584) revealed that TPB-related variables significantly predicted social-distancing and compliance behaviors, with subjective norms being the strongest predictor. Fatalistic attitudes toward COVID-19 were negatively associated with social-distancing and compliance behaviors, while individuals’ beliefs about organizational efficacy also significantly predicted social-distancing and compliance behaviors. Further, individuals’ perceptions of the CDC’s reputation significantly predicted overall compliance behaviors. We discuss theoretical and practical implications based on these findings.

GAMBARAN KESIAPSIAGAAN, RESPON, DAN PEMULIHAN PADA LEVEL KABUPATEN DALAM PENGENDALIAN PANDEMI COVID-19

Background: WHO has designated COVID-19 as a World Public Health Emergency. Success of the district level in handling COVID-19 is determined by the efforts made in these 3 phases: preparedness, response, and recovery. Sleman which has an urban character has its own vulnerabilitie and resources in the COVID-19 pandemic situation.&#x0D; Objective: This study aimed to obtain an overview of the preparedness, response, and recovery in controlling COVID-19.&#x0D; Methods: Qualitative research with a case study design in Sleman using the WHO Practical Actions in Cities to Strength Preparedness Checklist for the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond. The research subjects are informants who play a role in Task Force. Data were collected by means of documentation studies, observation, and in-depth interviews. Data validation was done by triangulation of sources and research data.&#x0D; Results: Expert academics and communities are less involved. At the beginning of the pandemic, risk communication was less than optimal to form stakeholder awareness in the government and the community, resulting in poor public compliance with health protocols and public health measures. Mobility restrictions follow national directives. However, compliance monitoring and enforcement of violations are weak. Testing and tracing capacity is still far below the standard. The strategy to increase the capacity of COVID-19 beds in hospitals does not anticipate a surge in cases, and the formation of village shelters has not been maximized.&#x0D; Conclusion: Planning and coordination require improvement by&#x0D; taking into account existing vulnerabilities and involving all resources in the community. Risk communication strategies need to be strengthened according to changing situations and tailored to&#x0D; specific targets using effective media. The government needs to make adjustments to public health measures carefully, taking into&#x0D; account the epidemiological situation, the capacity of the health system, and the socioeconomic conditions of the community.&#x0D; &#x0D;

Multi-Drug Resistant Escherichia coli, Biosecurity and Anti-Microbial Use in Live Bird Markets, Abeokuta, Nigeria

Live bird markets (LBM) remain a critical link from farm to fork in the poultry value chain, which oftentimes promotes indiscriminate antimicrobial use (AMU) and resistance (AMR). In this study, we assessed biosecurity practices, AMU, and associated these with multidrug resistant (MDR) E. coli in LBMs in Abeokuta, Ogun State. A cross-sectional survey among live bird sellers (LBS) in eight LBMs was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Also, cloacal samples (n = 200) were randomly collected and pooled for bacteriological detection of MDR E. coli in live chickens of consenting LBS. Susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials belonging to 6 different classes was determined using the disk diffusion method. Biosecurity level and AMU were generally low. LBS less than 46 years were 6.8- fold more likely to fall within the poor biosecurity level (Crudes odds ratio = 6.8; 95% CI; 1.20–38.56; p = 0.03) than others. An informal or primary school education increased the odds of having a poor practice of AMU by 15.1 folds (Crudes odds ratio = 15.1; 95% CI; 2.73–84.18; p = 0.002) than those with secondary or tertiary. The prevalence of E. coli and MDR E. coli at the LBM level were 80% and 56.3%, respectively. Extremely high resistance rates were observed for ceftazidime (96.9%) and imipenem (90.6%). The odds of MDR E. coli increased eight-fold in poultry kept by LBS who use AMs as prophylaxis. This current data could be useful for the development of targeted behavioral risk communication and mitigation strategies for AMR to impede the potential horizontal transfer of AMR genes to humans through animal-sourced food.

‘Polony panic’: News values and risk messages in news coverage of the South African listeriosis outbreak of 2017–2018

During food-borne disease outbreaks, people get most of their information about food safety and risk from the news media. Best practice in risk messaging requires the rapid sharing of information to minimise harm, while expressing empathy, accountability, and commitment. The journalistic processes through which news is shaped can prioritise information differently, potentially limiting informed decision-making. The South African listeriosis outbreak (2017–2018) was the biggest in global history and generated considerable media attention. Using ‘social attenuation of risk theory’ and ‘gatekeeping theory’, combined with ‘crisis and emergency risk communication best practices’ as guiding principles, in this study we aimed to analyse which components of risk message content and which news factors were prioritised by news media during the outbreak. Content analysis of 91 listeriosis-related newspaper articles revealed that the most common risk messaging practices included were information about ‘what is known’ and ‘which foods to avoid’. News factor analysis indicated ‘relevance’ was omnipresent, and ‘controversy’ was the second most frequently encountered factor. Overall, our findings suggest that only some best practices featured in the risk message media content, while others were mostly absent. This should be considered when developing future risk communication strategies related to food safety.

Risk, “Radiophobia,” and Social Learning: Applying Lessons from the Literature

Social learning aims to produce a change in both understanding and behavior on the part of individuals that diffuses to wider social units and communities of practice. This paper asks: What lessons from the social learning literature can be applied to research and public engagement with respect to radiation exposure risk? Five key lessons were assembled, and recent survey results were used to demonstrate how these lessons can be applied to outline a risk communication strategy that includes, but is not limited to, well-designed engagement. The marked divergence between public and “expert” opinion on radiation exposure risk remains at the heart of current debates over the role of nuclear energy in tackling climate change. Earlier literature tended to be dismissive of the risk gap, siding with the experts and branding the public “radiophobic.” We show how applying the findings of the literature review to the design and analysis of the survey can overcome shortcomings of past approaches and build on strengths. This paper seeks to demonstrate the importance and interrelated nature of mixed-methods studies where quantitative and qualitative analysis is combined. This includes avoiding overly binary approaches of study and finding ways to open up conversations and exchanges. This exploration of social learning and public engagement highlights the potential barriers nuclear energy faces in contributing to the future energy mix and challenges current practices to be more perceptive to the spectrum of public positions to radiation exposure risk.