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Risk communication activities of state health agencies
C Chess1, K L Salomone, P M Sandman
1Environmental Communication Research Program, Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-0231.
American Journal of Public Health
|April 1, 1991
Summary
State health agencies prioritize responding to information requests over proactive public risk communication. This reactive approach reveals a disconnect between their stated risk communication philosophy and actual practices.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Risk Communication
- Health Policy
Background:
- Effective risk communication is crucial for public health preparedness.
- State health agencies play a vital role in disseminating risk information.
- Understanding current practices is essential for improving risk communication strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risk communication practices and needs of state health agencies.
- To identify discrepancies between the philosophy and practice of risk communication in these agencies.
Main Methods:
- Surveys were administered to agency commissioners and designated staff.
- Data were collected from 48 states and territories.
- Analysis focused on communication efforts and identified gaps.
Main Results:
- Agencies dedicate more resources to responding to information requests than to proactive outreach.
- There is a notable gap between the agencies' stated risk communication philosophy and their implemented practices.
- Limited public alerting and dialogue initiation were observed.
Conclusions:
- State health agencies exhibit a reactive rather than proactive stance in risk communication.
- There is a need for strategic shifts to enhance public engagement and risk awareness.
- Further research should explore methods to bridge the philosophy-practice gap in public health communication.