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Communicating with the public about emerging health threats: lessons from the pre-event message development project

Author

Listed:
  • Wray, R.J.
  • Becker, S.M.
  • Henderson, N.
  • Glik, D.
  • Jupka, K.
  • Middleton, S.
  • Henderson, C.
  • Drury, A.
  • Mitchell, E.W.

Abstract

Objectives. We sought to better understand the challenges of communicating with the public about emerging health threats, particularly threats involving toxic chemicals, biological agents, and radioactive materials. Methods. At the request of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we formed an interdisciplinary consortium of investigative teams from 4 schools of public health. Over 2 years, the investigative teams conducted 79 focus group interviews with 884 participants and individual cognitive response interviews with 129 respondents, for a total sample of 1013 individuals. The investigative teams systematically compared their results with other published research in public health, risk communication, and emergency preparedness. Results. We found limited public understanding of emerging biological, chemical, and radioactive materials threats and of the differences between them; demand for concrete, accurate, and consistent information about actions needed for protection of self and family; active information seeking from media, local authorities, and selected national sources; and areas in which current emergency messaging can be improved. Conclusions. The public will respond to a threat situation by seeking protective information and taking self-protective action, underlining the critical role of effective communication in public health emergencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Wray, R.J. & Becker, S.M. & Henderson, N. & Glik, D. & Jupka, K. & Middleton, S. & Henderson, C. & Drury, A. & Mitchell, E.W., 2008. "Communicating with the public about emerging health threats: lessons from the pre-event message development project," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(12), pages 2214-2222.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2006.107102_8
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2006.107102
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    Cited by:

    1. Kott, Anne & Limaye, Rupali J., 2016. "Delivering risk information in a dynamic information environment: Framing and authoritative voice in Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and primetime broadcast news media communications during the 2014," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 42-49.
    2. Bevaola Kusumasari & Nias Phydra Aji Prabowo, 2020. "Scraping social media data for disaster communication: how the pattern of Twitter users affects disasters in Asia and the Pacific," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 103(3), pages 3415-3435, September.
    3. Simon, Tomer & Goldberg, Avishay & Adini, Bruria, 2015. "Socializing in emergencies—A review of the use of social media in emergency situations," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 609-619.
    4. Kate R. Smith & Silvia Grant & Robert E. Thomas, 2022. "Testing the public’s response to receiving severe flood warnings using simulated cell broadcast," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(2), pages 1611-1631, June.
    5. Julia M. Pearce & Lasse Lindekilde & David Parker & M. Brooke Rogers, 2019. "Communicating with the Public About Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attacks: Results from a Survey Experiment on Factors Influencing Intention to “Run, Hide, Tell” in the United Kingdom and Denmark," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(8), pages 1675-1694, August.
    6. Kai Chen & Xiaoping Lin & Han Wang & Yujie Qiang & Jie Kong & Rui Huang & Haining Wang & Hui Liu, 2022. "Visualizing the Knowledge Base and Research Hotspot of Public Health Emergency Management: A Science Mapping Analysis-Based Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-23, June.
    7. Leanne Burton & Abbie Wall & Elizabeth Perkins, 2022. "Making It Work: The Experiences of Delivering a Community Mental Health Service during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-15, September.

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