scholarly journals Risk Perceptions during COVID-19 Pandemic: Applying Knowledge on Public Compliance to Protective Measures during SARS to Understand Risk Communication

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Xingrui Chen
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Pharmaceutical Treatment ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Confidence Levels ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Public Risk

The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 has caused significant environmental and economic loss across the globe. The government’s promotion of non-pharmaceutical treatment such as social distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing can be equally important in disease control compared to the conventional use of pharmaceutical treatment. Risk perception is often used as an important mechanism to understand an individual's compliance with these protective measures. The present article examines the application of previous knowledge about public risk perception, decision making, and behavioral change to the current global pandemic and evaluates the most effective way of governmental messaging. The article analyzes empirical research conducted during COVID-19 across the globe where risk perception is found to be a strong determinant of people’s adoption of public health behavior. Demographic factors can significantly alter people’s understanding of risk due to the variation of individualistic view and prosociality of each nation. Cognitive biases can also affect people’s efficacy beliefs and confidence levels in government which can shape their risk perception to a great extent as well. Combining studies on both SARS and COVID-19, we are able to employ past knowledge to draw conclusions on risk communication and governmental promotion of protective measures during the current global pandemic.

scholarly journals The effect of risk communication on preventive and protective Behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak: mediating role of risk perception

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Taghi Heydari ◽  
Leila Zarei ◽  
Ahmad Kalateh Sadati ◽  
Najmeh Moradi ◽  
Maryam Akbari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
And Control ◽  
New Evidence

Abstract Background The COVID-19 outbreak is a global pandemic, during which the community preventive and protective behaviors play a crucial role in the containment and control of infection. This study was designed to contribute to the existing knowledge on how risk communication (RC) and risk perception (RP) affect protective and preventive behaviors (PPB) during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods The required data were extracted from a national online survey of Iranian adults aged 15 and older during March 15–19, 2020 (n=3213). Data analysis was performed using structural equation modeling. Results The study findings reveal that RC has direct and indirect positive effects on PB. Furthermore, this study also provides new evidence indicating that RP mediates the relationship between RC and PB and there is a two-way relationship between RC and RP. These interactions may have impact on risk communication strategies which should be adopted during this pandemic. Conclusion The study findings have remarkable implications for informing future communications as well as interventions during this ongoing outbreak and subsequent national risk events.

scholarly journals Psychological Factors Affecting Risk Perception of COVID-19: Evidence from Peru and China

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6513
Author(s):  
Fredy S. Monge-Rodríguez ◽  
He Jiang ◽  
Liwei Zhang ◽  
Andy Alvarado-Yepez ◽  
Anahí Cardona-Rivero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Government ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Health Field

COVID-19 has spread around the world, causing a global pandemic, and to date is impacting in various ways in both developed and developing countries. We know that the spread of this virus is through people’s behavior despite the perceived risks. Risk perception plays an important role in decision-making to prevent infection. Using data from the online survey of participants in Peru and China (N = 1594), data were collected between 8 July 31 and August 2020. We found that levels of risk perception are relatively moderate, but higher in Peru compared to China. In both countries, anxiety, threat perception, self-confidence, and sex were found to be significant predictors of risk perception; however, trust in the information received by government and experts was significant only in Peru, whereas self-confidence had a significant negative effect only for China. Risk communication should be implemented through information programs aimed at reducing anxiety and improving self-confidence, taking into consideration gender differences. In addition, the information generated by the government should be based on empirical sources. Finally, the implications for effective risk communication and its impacts on the health field are discussed.

scholarly journals Understanding coronavirus disease (COVID-19) risk perceptions among the public to enhance risk communication efforts: a practical approach for outbreaks, Finland, February 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Leena Lohiniva ◽  
Jussi Sane ◽  
Katja Sibenberg ◽  
Taneli Puumalainen ◽  
Mika Salminen
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Practical Approach ◽  
The Public ◽  
Media Messages ◽  
Risk Magnitude

Understanding risk perceptions of the public is critical for risk communication. In February 2020, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare started collecting weekly qualitative data on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) risk perception that informs risk communication efforts. The process is based on thematic analysis of emails and social media messages from the public and identifies factors linked to appraisal of risk magnitude, which are developed into risk communication recommendations together with health and communication experts.

Segmentation of Chinese parents based on food risk perception dimensions for risk communication in rural area of Sichuan province

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (10) ◽  
pp. 2444-2461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiajie Li ◽  
Nan Li ◽  
Lang Luo ◽  
Yanan Ren
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Rural Area ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Sichuan Province ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Target Audience ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Risk Dimensions

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate risk dimensions affecting food risk perceptions and to develop effective risk communication strategies based on their risk perceptions dimensions. The reason for writing this paper is that applying single risk communication strategy for public often fails because food risks are systemic risks and public perceptions toward them consist of multiple dimensions. Launching an effective risk communication need to investigate the perception dimensions of the target audience. Design/methodology/approach A total of 2,673 parents of 3-14-year-old children from the rural area of Sichuan province in China were chosen as target audience. Based on the survey conducted about parents’ food risk perceptions, this study used factor-cluster analysis method to segment parents to sub-clusters with significantly different risk perception dimensions. Parents’ representative demographic characteristics within each cluster were further identified through cross-tabs analysis with χ2 tests. Findings All the parents could be segmented into four sub-clusters, namely, sensitive parents, dependent parents, familiarity-oriented parents and institutional distrust parents, according to their risk perception difference on five dimensions. A series of risk communication strategies were specifically designed for each cluster based on their risk perception features as well as demographic characteristics. Originality/value The insight derived from this study described a deeper image of public risk perceptions and provided suggestions for risk communication launchers to pinpoint the risk perception as well as perception dimensions of the target audience and accordingly develop effective risk communication strategies.

Commentary on hormesis and public risk communication: is there a basis for public discussions?

2003 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Flynn ◽  
Donald MacGregor
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Threshold Model ◽  
Exposure Model ◽  
Social Good ◽  
Research Results ◽  
Daunting Task ◽  
Public Risk ◽  
The Impact

Research on radiation exposure is now focusing on microbiology and the impact of low dose exposures on cells and cell components. Eventually, this research may provide evidence to support changes in the models used to regulate human and environmental exposures. Currently, three models using older research results are subjects of interest and comparison. The linear no threshold model, the most restrictive on behalf of public health values, dominates regulatory decision making. Alternative models (i.e., the threshold model and the hormesis model) could reduce costs of radiation management, depending upon new research results and public acceptance. Enacting a new public exposure model is a daunting task for risk communication given existing public risk perceptions and the established public decision-making processes. Each of the three prominent models must answer the question, ‘what social good requires the use of this model in contrast to the others?’

scholarly journals Risk Perception, Risk Communication, and Mitigation Actions of Flash Floods: Results from a Survey in Three Types of Communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12389
Author(s):  
Ming Zhong ◽  
Lu Xiao ◽  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Tao Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Flash Flood ◽  
Protective Action ◽  
Community Resilience ◽  
Flash Floods ◽  
Flood Hazards ◽  
Flood Warnings

In order to improve the decision-making of risk management and enhance community resilience to flash floods, the perception of risks, communication of warnings, and mitigation actions concerning flash floods were investigated in this study. The survey involves 280 participants from three types of communities in flash flood-prone areas. Results show that: (i) About 55.4% of community participants misperceived or underestimated the risk of flash floods, especially in the suburban communities, and people had misconceptions about the safety of crossing fast-flowing water, even though most of them had experienced flash flood hazards. (ii) In total, 67.9% of participants indicated that they had at some point received a flash flood warning. The perception of accuracy was related to trust in flash flood warnings, but they were different constructs for some individuals. Moreover, residents in the rural community and suburban community reported a closer social communication with neighbors, which would greatly influence inhabitants’ attitudes and behaviors towards the flash flood warnings and mitigation actions. (iii) Most of the participants indicated they would take some protective action when they received a warning. Risk perceptions and risk communications influence the mitigation actions in the community. Significant variables in the rural community and non-rural community were explored, and some important suggestions are highlighted. These findings suggest that risk perception and risk communication in neighborhoods help people to decide what action to take in the given scenarios, contribute to enhancing the community resilience, and contribute to coping with future flash floods in a more specific and effective way.

scholarly journals Risk perception and optimism during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin J. Kuper-Smith ◽  
Lisa M. Doppelhofer ◽  
Yulia Oganian ◽  
Gabriela Rosenblau ◽  
Christoph W. Korn
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Longitudinal Design ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Optimism Bias ◽  
Comparative Optimism ◽  
Personal Risk ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Available Information

Slowing the spread of COVID-19 requires people to actively change their lives by following protective practices, such as physical distancing and disinfecting their hands. Perceptions about the personal risk of COVID-19 may affect compliance with these practices. In this study, we assessed risk perception and optimism about COVID-19 in a multinational (UK, USA and Germany), longitudinal design during the early stages of the pandemic (16 March 2020; 1 April 2020; 20 May 2020). Our main findings are that (i) people showed a comparative optimism bias about getting infected and infecting others, but not for getting severe symptoms, (ii) this optimism bias did not change over time, (iii) optimism bias seemed to relate to perceived level of control over the action, (iv) risk perception was linked to publicly available information about the disorder, (v) people reported adhering closely to protective measures but these measures did not seem to be related to risk perception, and (vi) risk perception was related to questions about stress and anxiety. In additional cross-sectional samples, we replicated our most important findings. Our open and partly preregistered results provide detailed descriptions of risk perceptions and optimistic beliefs during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in three Western countries.

scholarly journals Epidemic Risk Perceptions in Italy and Sweden Driven by Authority Responses to COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Raffetti ◽  
Elena Mondino ◽  
Giuliano Di Baldassarre
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Regional Differences ◽  
Excess Mortality ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Population Impact ◽  
Public Risk ◽  
Epidemic Risk

Abstract Understanding public risk perception is an essential step to develop effective measures reducing the spread of disease outbreaks. Here we compare epidemic risk perceptions during two different periods of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy and Sweden. To this end, we analyzed the results of two nationwide surveys carried out in both countries in two periods characterized by different infection rates: August (N = 4,154) and November 2020 (N = 4,168). Seven domains of epidemic risk perception were considered: likelihood along with (individual and population) impact, preparedness, and knowledge. The role of the context and period was explored in stratified and formal interaction analyses. In both countries, we found an intensification in epidemic risk perception from August to November 2020. Being male, older and having a higher relative income were associated with a lower perception of the likelihood of epidemics, while excess mortality was marginally related to higher odds. Compared to Sweden, Italy had a higher increase in perception of likelihood and impact, and a concurrent decrease in preparedness and knowledge. The different authority response to the COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a different change over time in risk perception. Regional differences in terms of excess mortality only marginally explained differences in risk perception.

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