Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication and Emotional Appeals in COVID-19 Public Health Messaging: Quantitative
Shirley S Ho1, Agnes S F Chuah1, Vanessa S Ho1
1Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
Journal of Medical Internet Research
|September 17, 2024
Summary
Effective public health communication in Singapore during COVID-19 involved clear messaging and context-specific emotional appeals. Analyzing crisis and emergency risk communication (CERC) strategies provides practical guidance for future pandemic responses.
Area of Science:
- Public Health Communication
- Risk Communication
- Health Behavior
Background:
- COVID-19 remains a significant public health concern in Singapore, necessitating robust communication strategies beyond disease management.
- Effective communication is crucial for informing the public and promoting protective behaviors during ongoing pandemic waves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze public health communication strategies employed in Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To examine the application of the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) framework and emotional appeals.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative content analysis of 696 Facebook posts and 83 website articles from Singaporean public health institutions.
- Data collection spanned from January 2020 to September 2022.
Main Results:
- Enhancing communication strategies involves increasing message themes like inquiry and clarification.
- The utilization of emotional appeals is time-dependent and requires careful, context-specific application.
Conclusions:
- This study advances the CERC framework and understanding of emotional appeals in public health crises.
- Findings offer practical insights for communication practitioners and authorities in developing effective pandemic communication strategies.
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