The global health system is ill prepared to handle communicable health crises, much less effectively communicate about them, as evidenced by the West African Ebola outbreak. Although some critics have argued that the delay in international response contributed to the fast spread of the disease, others place greater blame on local cultural practices. The current study investigated how risk/crisis communication was produced, deployed, and received. This is particularly critical as the World Health Organization guidance on crisis/risk communication is not based on systematic evidence-based research Again, risk communication on communicable diseases is still relatively new and the body of research lacks both rigorous empirical evidence and evaluation research on event-specific risk communication efforts. Guided by the protection motivation theory and social mobilization theory, and using a comparative case study approach, this study sought to examine how crisis risk communication was undertaken and received in Liberia and Ghana and the implications for health crisis risk communication. Data was collected via interviews with communication and social mobilization team representatives in the two countries, document reviews, surveys of a cross section of inhabitants in Margibi and Shai Osudoku districts, and focus group discussions with purposively selected participants in the two countries. The study finds that expert-led top-bottom communication interventions used at the start of the outbreak were ineffective in getting target audiences to make the recommended behavior changes in Liberia. Messages developed induced fear rather than action. Furthermore, one in five respondents today, cannot identify the main signs and symptoms of Ebola. Again, the more worried people were about Ebola, the more vulnerable they felt. Finally, respondents moved through a cycle from equilibrium to defense to protection and then back to equilibrium as they sought to make sense of the disease and the communication they received about Ebola. It is recommended that risk communication include bottom-up community-led communication approaches and systems that are embedded within community culture and reality and used by community members. Again, the research challenged the assumption in risk perception studies that increasing knowledge and self-efficacy lowers risk perception thus suggesting the need for further studies in this area. / 10000-01-01

xv, 178 p. : ill. A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: KNIGHT HM1101 .D54 2007 / The main goal of many political and intelligence forecasts is to effectively communicate risk information to decision makers (i.e. consumers). Standard reporting most often consists of a narrative discussion of relevant evidence concerning a threat, and rarely involves numerical estimates of uncertainty (e.g. a 5% chance). It is argued that numerical estimates of uncertainty will lead to more accurate representations of risk and improved decision making on the part of intelligence consumers. Little work has focused on how well consumers understand and use forecasts that include numerical estimates of uncertainty. Participants were presented with simulated intelligence forecasts describing potential terrorist attacks. These forecasts consisted of a narrative summary of the evidence related to the attack and numerical estimates of likelihood and potential harm. The primary goals were to explore how the structure of the narrative summary, the format of likelihood information, and the numerical ability (numeracy) of consumers affected perceptions of intelligence forecasts. Consumers perceived forecasts with numerical estimates of likelihood and potential harm as more useful than forecasts with only a narrative evidence summary. However, consumer's risk and likelihood perceptions were more greatly affected by the narrative evidence summary than the stated likelihood information. These results show that even "precise" numerical estimates of likelihood are not necessarily evaluable by consumers and that perceptions of likelihood are affected by supporting narrative information. Numeracy also moderated the effects of stated likelihood and the narrative evidence summary. Consumers higher in numeracy were more likely to use the stated likelihood information and consumers lower in numeracy were more likely to use the narrative evidence to inform their judgments. The moderating effect of likelihood format and consumer's perceptions of forecasts in hindsight are also explored. Explicit estimates of uncertainty are not necessarily useful to all intelligence consumers, particularly when presented with supporting narrative evidence. How consumers respond to intelligence forecasts depends on the structure of any supporting narrative information, the format of the explicit uncertainty information, and the numerical ability of the individual consumer. Forecasters should be sensitive to these three issues when presenting forecasts to consumers. / Adviser: Paul Slovic

Making tobacco products associated with lower risks available to smokers who would otherwise continue smoking is recognized as an important strategy towards addressing smoking-related harm. Predicting use behavior is an important major component of product risk assessment. In this context, risk perception is a possible factor driving tobacco product uptake and use. As prior to market launch real-world actual product use cannot be observed, assessing risk perception can provide predictive information. Considering the lack of suitable validated self-report instruments, the development of a new instrument was undertaken to quantify perceived risks of tobacco and nicotine-containing products by adult smokers, former smokers and never-smokers. Initial items were constructed based on a literature review, focus groups and expert opinion. Data for scale formation and assessment were obtained through two successive US-based web surveys (n=2020 and 1640 completers, respectively). Psychometric evaluation was based on Rasch Measurement Theory and Classical Test Theory. Psychometric evaluation supported the formation of an 18-item Perceived Health Risk scale and a 7-item Perceived Addiction Risk scale: item response option thresholds were ordered correctly for all items; item locations in each scale were spread out (coverage range 75-87%); scale reliability was supported by high person separation indices > 0.93, Cronbach's alpha > 0.98 and Corrected Item-Total Correlations > 0.88; and no differential item functioning was present. Construct validity evaluations met expectations through inter-scale correlations and findings from known-group comparisons. The Perceived Risk Instrument is a psychometrically robust instrument applicable for general and personal risk perception measurement, for use in different types of products (including cigarettes, nicotine replacement therapy, potential Modified Risk Tobacco Products), and for different status groups (i.e., current smokers with and without intention to quit, former smokers, never smokers).

M.Com. (Accounting) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This thesis explores how social networking sites are changing the way individuals socialize in everyday life, and how users mediate this social media. The hypothesis explored is that Facebook user’s perception of risk, when using the site, is related to how they frame the technology. Drawing on conceptual and theoretical tools from science studies and the sociologies of friendship, risk and surveillance, interview data is collected and analysed in order to identify the dynamics that structure Facebook use. It is concluded not only that, as hypothesized, participant’s awareness and perception of risk is based upon their framing of the social networking technology, but also that the framing processes arise from the technosocial hybrid nature of Facebook. That is to say, it is not exclusively based on technological possibility or on existing social practices but instead by a constant balance between the two.

This thesis examines mothers’ risk perceptions and protective actions as they relate to their children’s environmental health. Children are more exposed and vulnerable than adults to environmental hazards, which have been found to be associated with numerous immediate and long-term negative health outcomes, due to physiological and behavioural factors. Despite the responsibility mothers typically bear as primary caregivers to their children, little is known about how they perceive and negotiate these risks in their day-to-day lives. To better understand mothers’ perceptions and associated protective actions across socioeconomic and geographic contexts, a mixed-method approach was employed involving a quantitative telephone survey (n=606) in Peel Region and Ottawa Public Health Units and qualitative face-to-face interviews (n=15) in Ottawa. Risk perceptions were influenced by income and perceived control, and concerns ranged from chemicals in household products to outdoor air pollution. There was a commonly reported perception that mothers should automatically become more concerned and take protective actions once they have children. When financial or other barriers prevented mothers from taking direct action to reduce risks, such as switching to safer products or changing food habits, they may have relied on emotion-focused coping techniques to reduce feelings of concern, including choosing to ignore risk information. Mothers’ information sources were examined to understand how risk information is best internalized; while the most common source of environmental health risk information was the Internet, many mothers expressed their mistrust in it and would have preferred to receive information directly from healthcare providers. This research contributes to the understanding of risk perception and protective action in a largely understudied population and the findings have practical implications for risk management and communication strategies targeting pregnant women and new mothers.

Background: Radon is a high impact environmental pollutant and is the second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada. Despite the gravity of the health risk, residents have inadequate awareness and have taken minimum preventive actions. The success of any population-level health awareness program is contingent on the views and actions of key decision makers at the household level. People's perceptions of the risk should inform health communication messaging that aims to motivate them to take preventive measures. The objective of this study was to measure the quantifiable associations and predictions between perceptions of radon health risk and their preventive actions; to explore and examines the social determinants that enable and hinder the adoption of preventive measures. Additionally, the best effective radon control systems for both the new and existing houses and relevant policy implications have been examined. Methods: A mixed methods study consisting of surveys (n=557) and qualitative interviews (n=35) was conducted with both homeowners and tenants of Ottawa-Gatineau areas. Descriptive, correlation and regression analyses addressed the quantitative research questions. Thematic, inductive analysis identified themes in the qualitative data. A mixed methods analysis triangulate both results. A registered systematic review of radon interventions around the world was conducted and radon policy analysis was done by applying interdisciplinary frameworks. Results: Residents’ perceptions of radon health risk, smoking at home, social influence, and care for family significantly correlated with their intention to test for radon; the same variables predicted their protection behaviours. Residents obtained information on radon from the media, individual search, workplace and social networks. Residents who had dual - cognitive and emotional awareness of the risk, were motivated enough to take action. Having an understanding of the risk, caring for family, knowing others who contracted lung cancer and being financially capable were enablers for action. Obstacles included lack of awareness, cost of mitigation, lack of home ownership and potential stigma in selling the house. Residents attributed primary responsibility to public agencies for disseminating information and suggested incentivizing and mandating actions to promote preventive measures. Indoor radon is best controlled by installing an active SSDS with additional measures to seal any entry points in the foundation. The policy analysis generated a list of recommendations that can be implemented through multisectoral systems level actions to address the social determinants of risk distribution. Conclusions: Residents do not get the crucial information on radon health risk and report barriers in testing and engaging in protective action. Risk perceptions are subjective and influenced by micro and macro level factors. Inducing protective action to reduce risk requires comprehensive interventions taking into account dual perceptions of the threat. Future research can explore the dual aspects of risk perception and examine the contents of the risk communication message. Policy should address the shared responsibility of both governments and residents in tackling the issue with reasonable incentives and mandatory regulations.

The aim of this exploratory study was to determine whether there was any significance to the proposition that the ability of individuals to assess entrepreneurial risks differed between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on the risk identification and risk prioritisation abilities.A survey strategy was followed which made use of a case study exercise to ascertain what risks the sample groups of entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs identified. Demographics and other risk variables, such as risk propensity and risk perception, were also excluded to provide context and eliminate certain alternative explanations.No significant differences were found between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs with respect the risks that they identified in the case study exercise. Entrepreneurs perceived the case study as more favourable and had a higher risk propensity. Entrepreneurs also found the case study exercise more difficult than non-entrepreneurs. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This qualitative study utilized the protective action decision model to explore the risk perceptions and hazard adjustments to the earthquake risk of residents in El Reno, Oklahoma.

Online communities have become a part of everyday life for many people. The members of the communities use them to keep in touch with family and friends, do business, look for jobs, play games, and more, both savory and unsavory. The ease of sharing personal information comes with the subsequent risk of having that information exposed publically or even stolen. The purpose of this study was to explore how much awareness of the risks affects a person’s decision to post personal information to an online community. Chapter I introduces the concepts and issues that will be investigated by this paper. Chapter II is a review of the literature on risk. Chapter III explains the model that was developed and used determine the relationships between risk perception, attitude, fear, and information revelation. Chapter IV explains the methods used to gather the data and what data was gathered. Chapter V contains the analysis of the data collected. Chapter VI contains the conclusion drawn from the data, implications for the research, and directions for future research.