Radiation Risk Communication Problems in the Context of Promoting a Public Dialogue

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 105-112
Author(s):  
E. Melikhova ◽  
I. Abalkina
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Fuel Cycle ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Radiation Risk ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽  
Scientific Uncertainty ◽  
The Public

The persisting gap between the scientific knowledge of the effects of radiation and the public perception of radiation risk remains a source of potential problems not only in connection with probable radiation accidents, but also in the implementation of new long-term solutions, such as siting of radioactive waste disposal facilities, the nuclear-fuel cycle (NFC) closure and others. The authors analyze why, in the 30 years after the Chernobyl accident, nuclear industry specialists and radiological community failed to change this situation substantially and reflect on what one can do in the future. The authors attribute the low efficiency of the traditional approach “explaining risk in simple language", on the one hand, to the known limitations of scientific and technical rationalism in matters relating to human health, and, on the other hand, to internal inconsistency of modern approaches to regulating radiation risks in the range of fundamental scientific uncertainty. The authors present two directions to move forward. The first one is to involve social science specialists, who study the patterns of public perception of health risks (risk communication experts), in a dialogue with the public. The second one is the recognition by the professional radiological community of their moral responsibility for “side” social effects arising from the insufficient social adaptation of risk management recommendations offered to the authorities, with the subsequent transition to a value-oriented risk communication strategy.

scholarly journals Perception of the Movement Control Order during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Study in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8778
Author(s):  
Yea Lu Tay ◽  
Zalilah Abdullah ◽  
Kalvina Chelladorai ◽  
Lee Lan Low ◽  
Seng Fah Tong
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Response ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Movement Control ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Physical Interaction ◽  
Psychological States ◽  
The Public ◽  
Control Order ◽  
Depth Interviews

Malaysia implemented its first Movement Control Order (MCO) during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic to slow the transmission of the virus. This study aimed to explore the public perception of the MCO implementation and people’s experiences during this period. The study employed qualitative explorative in-depth interviews conducted with 23 Malaysian adults from various demographic backgrounds. Thematic analysis was performed using NVivo 12. Three main themes were identified: a period of information surge, heterogeneous emotional response, and attempts to adapt. During the MCO, the participants obtained information from multiple platforms. They suggested the need for clear and repeated instructions to avoid confusion and misinformation. They also acknowledged the importance of the MCO in breaking the chain of transmission and safeguarding high-risk groups; however, they also expressed that stricter enforcement from the authorities was warranted. The changes in the participants’ work–life routines, lack of physical interaction, and uncertainty about their health and the economy due to the MCO negatively impacted their psychological states. Despite these challenges, the participants attempted to adapt to life under the MCO in different ways. The findings imply that during a crisis, the public tends to seek clear and reliable information, experience emotional turmoil, and adapt to changes. The MCO implementation can be improved through an effective communication strategy and efforts to battle misinformation.

Scientific Uncertainty in Health and Risk Messaging

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Zehr
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Scientific Uncertainty ◽  
Public Science ◽  
The Public ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
New Research ◽  
Societal Problems

Expressions of scientific uncertainty are normal features of scientific articles and professional presentations. Journal articles typically include research questions at the beginning, probabilistic accounts of findings in the middle, and new research questions at the end. These uncertainty claims are used to construct clear boundaries between uncertain and certain scientific knowledge. Interesting questions emerge, however, when scientific uncertainty is communicated in occasions for public science (e.g., newspaper accounts of science, scientific expertise in political deliberations, science in stakeholder claims directed to the public, and so forth). Scientific uncertainty is especially important in the communication of environmental and health risks where public action is expected despite uncertain knowledge. Public science contexts are made more complex by the presence of multiple actors such as citizen-scientists, journalists, stakeholders, social movement actors, politicians, and so on who perform important functions in the communication and interpretation of scientific information and bring in diverse norms and values. A past assumption among researchers was that scientists would deemphasize or ignore uncertainties in these situations to better match their claims with a public perception of science as an objective, truth-building institution. However, more recent research indicates variability in the likelihood that scientists communicate uncertainties and in the public reception and use of uncertainty claims. Many scientists still believe that scientific uncertainty will be misunderstood by the public and misused by interest groups involved with an issue, while others recognize a need to clearly translate what is known and not known. Much social science analysis of scientific uncertainty in public science views it as a socially constructed phenomenon, where it depends less upon a particular state of scientific research (what scientists are certain and uncertain of) and more upon contextual factors, the actors involved, and the meanings attached to scientific claims. Scientific uncertainty is often emergent in public science, both in the sense that the boundary between what is certain and uncertain can be managed and manipulated by powerful actors and in the sense that as scientific knowledge confronts diverse public norms, values, local knowledges, and interests new areas of uncertainty emerge. Scientific uncertainty may emerge as a consequence of social conflict rather than being its cause. In public science scientific uncertainty can be interpreted as a normal state of affairs and, in the long run, may not be that detrimental to solving societal problems if it opens up new avenues and pathways for thinking about solutions. Of course, the presence of scientific uncertainty can also be used to legitimate inaction.

scholarly journals The Challenges of the Forestry Sector Communication Based on an Analysis of Research Studies in the Czech Republic

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 935
Author(s):  
Marcel Riedl ◽  
Vilém Jarský ◽  
Petra Palátová ◽  
Roman Sloup
Keyword(s):  
Public Perception ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The Public ◽  
Forestry Sector ◽  
Research Studies

Achieving public support and understanding in addressing the challenges of climate change and the bark beetle calamity is a prerequisite for the successful future of Czech forestry. The most important instrument for achieving public support is communication. To be effective, this communication has to be built on a communication strategy reflecting the long-term goals of forest policy and has to be based on both current analyses and other relevant information, which, in turn, is based on the research results of the public perception of the forests and forestry. This article deals with the results of current research studies and formulates conclusions in relation to this communication strategy. Among other things, these results indicate the willingness of a large part of the public to actively participate in voluntary assistance to forestry, markedly differing opinions among individual groups on forest functions, and rather below-average interest in information concerning forests and forestry.

Nuclear Power Risks: Challenge to the Credibility of Science

1980 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce L. Welch
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Nuclear Accident ◽  
Nuclear Accidents ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Impairment ◽  
Nuclear Reactor Safety ◽  
Special Responsibility

For a quarter of a century the Federal Government and the nuclear industry have deliberately deceived the American public about the risks of nuclear power. Facts have been systematically withheld, distorted, and obscured, and calculations have been deliberately biased in order to present nuclear power in an unrealistically favorable light. Most persistent and flagrant have been: (a) attempts to “normalize” public perception of nuclear accident casualties with those of more familiar accidents by emphasizing only acute fatalities and ignoring or downplaying the major effects of nuclear accidents, namely, health impairment and death years delayed; and (b) the cloaking of the objectively undocumentable faith of the atomic energy establishment that a nuclear accident is extremely unlikely in a smokescreen of invalid, pseudo-quantitative statistical probabilities in order to convince the public that the chance of an accident is negligible. Prime examples of these abuses are found in the Rasmussen report on nuclear reactor safety and in its representation to the public. The deceptive practices used in promoting nuclear power have seriously shaken public faith in government, technology, and science. The scientific community has a special responsibility to minimize such future political abuses of science. For those who were responsible for the deliberate breeches of public trust which resulted in this loss of faith, mere professional disdain will not suffice. They should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

Establishion of Radioactive Contamination Monitoring Network and Bioremediation of the Soil around the Nuclear Facilities in China

2011 ◽  
Vol 347-353 ◽  
pp. 512-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yun Xia Luan ◽  
Zhi Hong Ma ◽  
Li Gang Pan
Keyword(s):  
Early Warning ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fuel Cycle ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Monitoring Network ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽  
Spent Fuel ◽  
Nuclear Facilities ◽  
Cycle System

The nuclear facilities accelerated continuously with the rapid development of the nuclear industry for the increasing demand for energy in China. The nuclear facilities were widely distributed in coastal areas or remote mountainous areas. With the rapid development of the nuclear industry, nuclear fuel cycle system, such as uranium mining and milling, component manufacturing, transportation and disposal of spent fuel, radioactive waste disposal, also would be large-scale distributed, so it is no doubt that the environmental impact would become increasingly prominent and severe. Radionuclides contaminate the environment through the gas, liquid and solid around nuclear facilities, and in case of radioactive leakage, the contamination would affect the soil and public health through food chain. This article aims to establish a nationwide network of early warning detection of radioactivity, the formation of nuclear facilities, radioactive soil around the monitoring and early warning mechanisms, and regularly publish relevant monitoring information, and to study bioremediation of radioactive contaminated soil, to eliminate the public about nuclear discoloration fears and concerns, promote economic and social development , and to keep the nuclear facilities and nature in harmony through environmental protection.

scholarly journals Crisis Communication and Public Perception of COVID-19 Risk in the Era of Social Media

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen M C Malecki ◽  
Julie A Keating ◽  
Nasia Safdar
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Risk Mitigation ◽  
Improve Patient Care ◽  
Personal Control ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Scientific Uncertainty ◽  
Late 20Th Century

Abstract A number of important principles in effective risk communication established in the late 20th century can provide important scientific insight into patient response to the risks posed by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Early risk communication scholars found acceptability of risk was shaped by 2 key components: hazard and outrage. The number of people who are exposed, infected, and fall ill can be considered the hazard. How the public and patients and respond to messages regarding risk mitigation relates to outrage. Social and cultural factors, immediacy, uncertainty, familiarity, personal control, scientific uncertainty, and trust in institutions and media all shape perception and response to risk mesaging. Outrage factors influence the ever-changing public understanding of COVID-19 risk. In concert, hazard and outrage along with cultural and economic context shape adherence to, and overall acceptance of, personal mitigation strategies including wearing facemasks and social distancing among the general public. The spread of misinformation on social media also provides both challenges and opportunities for clinicians. Social media offers an opportunity for experts to quickly convey true information about hazards, but offers others the opportunity to counter this with the spread of misinformation and exacerbate outrage. We propose strategies for infectious diseases clinicians to apply risk communication principles and frameworks to improve patient care and public message development in response to COVID-19.

scholarly journals Medical staff perceptions of risk communication needs for the public and comparison with the needs expressed by the public

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 199-206
Author(s):  
Y. Yoshida ◽  
Y. Yoshida
Keyword(s):  
Radiation Exposure ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
The Public ◽  
Regulatory Sciences

Risk communication programs about radiation exposure should be conducted continuously and rigorously by healthcare workers in the Tohoku region in order to reduce the stress caused by radiation exposure. This study aimed to compare the perception by medical staff of the public need to the public need as defined in a previous study, as well as examine the level of perception among healthcare workers of the two concepts “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA), and Regulatory Sciences. These two concepts were expected to be the ones to impart information regarding the effect of radiation on the human body during risk communication. The results showed differences between the public perception of risks and belief of what the public risk perception was by the medical staff. In addition, only 23.5% and 16.5% medical doctors had accurate perception of ALARA and Regulatory Sciences in Japan, respectively, even after the great East Japan Earthquake., ALARA and Regulatory Sciences should be added to healthcare workers’ education curriculums to enhance their knowledge level of these concepts. From the viewpoint of laypersons, public health awareness programs conducted by the local and central governments ranked fourth and fifth respectively as sources of information. One of the reasons was that, to some extent, the attitude of the central government seemed apt to be overbearing to laypersons. Therefore, we also believe that medical doctors are expected to be intermediaries between central/local governments and laypersons.

scholarly journals The public perception of food and non-food related risks of infection and trust in the risk communication during COVID-19 crisis: A study on selected countries from the Arab region

Food Control ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 121 ◽  
pp. 107617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dima Faour-Klingbeil ◽  
Tareq M. Osaili ◽  
Anas A. Al-Nabulsi ◽  
Monia Jemni ◽  
Ewen C.D. Todd
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Arab Region ◽  
The Public

scholarly journals Ways to optimize the risk communication between specialists on radiation safety and population: recommendations on communication language

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 72-77
Author(s):  
Genrietta V. Arkhagelskaya ◽  
Svetlana A. Zelentsova
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Radiation Safety ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Information Support ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Language Characteristic ◽  
Source Of Information

The article discusses the features inherent in the language of communication of specialists in radiation safety among themselves and with the public. Despite the confidence expressed by the population to specialists, their communication is difficult not only for organizational reasons, but also for their languages of communication. The population best understands the language not of the source of information on radiation safety issues (specialists), but of the transmitter of this information – journalists. It is necessary to take into account the difference in the tasks of specialists and journalists in conveying information to the population on the urgent problems of radiation safety, in particular, projects of the nuclear industry. It is shown that taking into account the peculiarities of the language characteristic of the population (or any of its groups) helps in a large degree to optimize information support for risk communication of the population on radiation safety issues. This is necessary for the development of an adequate attitude to the work of the nuclear industry. The article also considers the stages of risk- communication and the factors contributing to its optimization.

scholarly journals KOMUNIKASI SELAMA PANDEMI COVID-19: BELAJAR DARI KEGAGALAN KOMUNIKASI RISIKO KESEHATAN YANG EFEKTIF

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-122
Author(s):  
Aizun Najih
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Strategic Communication ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Sensitive Information ◽  
The Public ◽  
Government Communication ◽  
The World ◽  
The Government

Abstract. Governments around the world can learn many important lessons from examining instances of ineffective communication with the public during the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) panic. Ineffective government communication has resulted in much confusion and misunderstanding of the public, as well as severe errors in responding to growing health threats, causing catastrophic health and social repercussions for society and prolonging the pandemic. This article uses systems theory as a framework for analyzing government communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing recommendations for the government to establish an effective health risk communication strategy. The communication strategy encourages the delivery of relevant, accurate and sensitive information to key public groups, minimizing communication disruptions to guide desired coordinated action. The communication strategy can be applied locally, nationally and internationally.Keywords: health risk communication, government communication, pandemic, strategic communication, systems theory.Abstrak. Pemerintah di seluruh dunia dapat mempelajari banyak pelajaran penting dari memeriksa contoh komunikasi yang tidak efektif dengan publik selama kepanikan penyakit virus corona global (COVID-19). Komunikasi pemerintah yang tidak efektif telah mengakibatkan banyak kebingungan dan kesalahpahaman publik, serta kesalahan serius dalam menanggapi ancaman kesehatan yang terus berkembang, dan menyebabkan bencana kesehatan dan dampak sosial bagi masyarakat dan memperpanjang pandemi. Artikel ini menggunakan teori sistem sebagai kerangka untuk menganalisis komunikasi pemerintah selama pandemi COVID-19, memberikan rekomendasi kepada pemerintah untuk menetapkan strategi komunikasi risiko kesehatan yang efektif. Strategi komunikasi mendorong penyampaian informasi yang relevan, akurat, dan sensitif kepada kelompok-kelompok publik utama, meminimalkan gangguan komunikasi untuk memandu tindakan terkoordinasi yang diinginkan. Strategi komunikasi dapat diterapkan secara lokal, nasional, dan internasional.Kata kunci: komunikasi risiko kesehatan, komunikasi pemerintah, pandemi, komunikasi strategis, teori sistem.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document