Vulnerability beyond Stereotypes: Context and Agency in Hurricane Risk Communication

Abstract Risk communication may accentuate or alleviate the vulnerability of people who have particular difficulties responding to the threat of hazards such as hurricanes. The process of risk communication involves how hazard information is received, understood, and responded to by individuals and groups. Thus, risk communication and vulnerability interact through peoples' knowledge, attitudes, and practices. This study explores risk communication with several groups that may be at particular risk of hurricane impacts: older adults, newer residents, and persons with disabilities. Focus groups conducted in Miami, Florida, examined how members of these groups express their own vulnerability or agency in terms of receiving, interpreting, and responding to hurricane risk information. Findings indicate that people's interactions with risk information are deeply contextual and are facilitated by their individual agency to cope with their vulnerabilities.

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Creation and Communication of Hurricane Risk Information

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society ◽

10.1175/bams-d-11-00150.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 93 (8) ◽

pp. 1133-1145 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Julie L. Demuth ◽

Rebecca E. Morss ◽

Betty Hearn Morrow ◽

Jeffrey K. Lazo

Keyword(s):

Risk Communication ◽

Warning System ◽

Weather Forecast ◽

Risk Information ◽

Social Scientists ◽

The Public ◽

Local Television ◽

Emergency Managers ◽

Hurricane Risk ◽

Uncertainty Information

Reducing loss of life and harm when a hurricane threatens depends on people receiving hurricane risk information that they can interpret and use in protective decisions. To understand and improve hurricane risk communication, this article examines how National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters at the National Hurricane Center and local weather forecast offices, local emergency managers, and local television and radio media create and convey hurricane risk information. Data from in-depth interviews and observational sessions with members of these groups from Greater Miami were analyzed to examine their roles, goals, and interactions, and to identify strengths and challenges in how they communicate with each other and with the public. Together, these groups succeed in partnering with each other to make information about approaching hurricane threats widely available. Yet NWS forecasters sometimes find that the information they provide is not used as they intended; media personnel want streamlined information from NWS and emergency managers that emphasizes the timing of hazards and the recommended response and protective actions; and emergency managers need forecast uncertainty information that can help them plan for different scenarios. Thus, we recommend that warning system partners 1) build understanding of each other's needs and constraints; 2) ensure formalized, yet flexible mechanisms exist for exchanging critical information; 3) improve hurricane risk communication by integrating social science knowledge to design and test messages with intended audiences; and 4) evaluate, test, and improve the NWS hurricane-related product suite in collaboration with social scientists.

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Safety of Ultrasound Exposure: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Australasian Sonographers

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography ◽

10.1177/8756479318791512 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 34 (5) ◽

pp. 357-367 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Monique Moderiano ◽

Maureen McEvoy ◽

Jessie Childs ◽

Adrian Esterman

Keyword(s):

Focus Groups ◽

Biological Effects ◽

The Body ◽

Mechanical Index ◽

Thermal Index ◽

Safety Issues ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Body Tissues ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices ◽

Safety Guidelines

Introduction: While perceived as safe, diagnostic ultrasound has the potential to cause biological effects on the body tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Australasian sonographers on bioeffects and safety of ultrasound scanning. Methods: Focus groups were used to develop a questionnaire to explore knowledge, attitudes, and practices of ultrasound safety, which was then distributed to Australasian sonographers. Thematic (focus groups) and descriptive (questionnaires) analyses were undertaken. Results: A 37-item questionnaire addressed knowledge, attitudes, and practices of ultrasound safety. In 47 collected responses, sonographers demonstrated good familiarity of thermal index (TI) (79%), mechanical index (MI) (68%), and “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA) principle (85%). However, most sonographers could not accurately define TI (13%) and had poor knowledge of safety guidelines relating to TI (19%) and MI (14%). Over 30% were uncertain about their attitudes to ultrasound safety issues. While 52% always and 30% most of the time adhere to ALARA, 37% of sonographers reported never monitoring TI and MI. Discussion: While familiar with safety terms, knowledge of safety guidelines was lacking. Many sonographers were uncertain about their attitudes to the safety of scans, and safety practices involving monitoring for bioeffects were not a high priority.

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Exploring knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward older adults with hypertension in primary care

Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare ◽

10.2147/jmdh.s112368 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol Volume 9 ◽

pp. 559-564 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Luckwirun Chotisiri ◽

Khemika Yamarat ◽

Surasak Taneepanichskul

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Primary Care ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

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Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of seasonal influenza vaccination among older adults in nursing homes and daycare centers, Honduras

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0246382 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. e0246382

Author(s):

Zachary J. Madewell ◽

Rafael Chacón-Fuentes ◽

Jorge Jara ◽

Homer Mejía-Santos ◽

Ida-Berenice Molina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Influenza Virus ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Seasonal Influenza ◽

Severe Illness ◽

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination ◽

Attitudes And Practices ◽

Daycare Centers ◽

Knowledge Attitudes And Practices

Background Older adults represent 70–90% of seasonal influenza-related deaths and 50–70% of influenza-related hospitalizations. Vaccination is the most efficient means of preventing influenza and reducing influenza-related illnesses. We aimed to describe knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of seasonal influenza vaccination among older adults in Honduras. Methods From August 29–October 26, 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional KAP survey regarding seasonal influenza vaccinations to samples of older adults 1) admitted to nursing homes and 2) attending daycare centers. We used the Minimental State Examination (MMSE) psychometric tool to assess the cognitive status of older adults and included participants with scores of ≥23 points in the survey. We reported frequency distributions for demographics, KAP of influenza virus and vaccination, and vaccination coverage. We used logistic regression to analyze associations between demographics and verified influenza vaccination. Results Of 511 MMSE participants, 341 completed the survey (95 adults in 12 nursing homes and 246 older adults in ten daycare centers). Almost all participants knew that influenza causes severe illness and may be transmitted from person to person, vaccination is safe and protects against disease, and older adults have greater risk of complications. Of 284 participants with verified vaccinations, 81.3% were vaccinated for influenza: 87.9% attending daycare centers and 61.4% in nursing homes. Among all participants, verified current influenza vaccination was associated with self-reported influenza vaccination in previous year (aOR: 14.05; 95% CI: 5.36–36.81); no formal education (aOR: 4.83; 95% CI: 1.63–14.37) or primary school education (aOR: 4.51; 95% CI: 1.79–11.37) having ≥secondary as reference; and indigenous (aOR: 4.55; 95% CI: 1.18–17.49) having Mestizo as reference. Reasons for vaccination were perceived self-benefits, protection against influenza complications, favorable vaccination hours, and healthcare provider recommendations. Conclusion Four-fifths of older adults were vaccinated for seasonal influenza. Educational efforts provided in conjunction with vaccination campaigns resulted in high knowledge of influenza virus, transmission, and vaccination. Further outreach regarding disease risks and vaccine safety needs to be directed towards older adults in nursing homes who had lower knowledge and coverage than older adults in daycare centers.

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