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Impact of Communication Measures Implemented During a School Tuberculosis Outbreak on Risk Perception among Parents and School Staff, Italy, 2019

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  • Davide Gentili

    (Public Health Office, Local Health Unit 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy
    Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Andrea Bardin

    (Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Public Health Unit, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy)

  • Elisa Ros

    (Public Health Office, Local Health Unit 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy)

  • Cinzia Piovesan

    (Epidemiology Office, Local Health Unit 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy)

  • Mauro Ramigni

    (Epidemiology Office, Local Health Unit 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy)

  • Maria Dalmanzio

    (Public Health Office, Local Health Unit 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy)

  • Marco Dettori

    (Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy)

  • Antonietta Filia

    (Department of Infectious Diseases, National Health Institute (Istituto Superiore di Sanità), 00100 Rome, Italy)

  • Sandro Cinquetti

    (Public Health Office, Local Health Unit 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy)

Abstract

Risk perception has a significant impact on decisions people make when facing a threat: a mismatch between actual hazard and perceived risk can lead to inappropriate behaviours and suboptimal compliance to recommended public health measures. The present study was conducted in the aftermath of a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak that occurred in 2019 in a primary school in Italy. The aim was to evaluate the impact of communication measures implemented by local health authorities (including face-to-face meetings between LHAs and the local population, weekly press announcements, implementation of a telephone hotline and of an information desk, and social media communication), on risk perception among parents of schoolchildren and school staff, and to identify factors related to a change in risk perception before and after the said activities. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to parents of schoolchildren ( n = 846) and to school staff ( n = 70). Participants were asked about the level of risk they had perceived at two distinct times: when they first became aware of the outbreak and following implementation of communication activities. A significant reduction of perceived risk was found in both groups ( p < 0.001) following the communication activities. The largest reduction was found among participants who reported having appreciated the meetings with the LHA healthcare staff. Our findings suggest that keeping an open approach, explaining the actual threat to the population and adapting communication to different listening skills, are essential for health authorities to successfully manage a public health emergency.

Suggested Citation

  • Davide Gentili & Andrea Bardin & Elisa Ros & Cinzia Piovesan & Mauro Ramigni & Maria Dalmanzio & Marco Dettori & Antonietta Filia & Sandro Cinquetti, 2020. "Impact of Communication Measures Implemented During a School Tuberculosis Outbreak on Risk Perception among Parents and School Staff, Italy, 2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:3:p:911-:d:315333
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marco Dettori & Benedetto Arru & Antonio Azara & Andrea Piana & Gavino Mariotti & Maria Veronica Camerada & Paola Stefanelli & Giovanni Rezza & Paolo Castiglia, 2018. "In the Digital Era, Is Community Outrage a Feasible Proxy Indicator of Emotional Epidemiology? The Case of Meningococcal Disease in Sardinia, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-8, July.
    2. Marco Dettori & Antonio Azara & Erika Loria & Andrea Piana & Maria Dolores Masia & Alessandra Palmieri & Andrea Cossu & Paolo Castiglia, 2019. "Population Distrust of Drinking Water Safety. Community Outrage Analysis, Prediction and Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-10, March.
    3. Smith, Richard D., 2006. "Responding to global infectious disease outbreaks: Lessons from SARS on the role of risk perception, communication and management," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 63(12), pages 3113-3123, December.
    4. Baruch Fischhoff, 1995. "Risk Perception and Communication Unplugged: Twenty Years of Process," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(2), pages 137-145, April.
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