Do radon risk maps encourage residential testing behaviour? Evidence from an experimental study in Canada

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Risk Communication
• Public Health

Background:

• Radon is a significant risk factor for lung cancer, particularly for smokers.
• Public health maps are used to raise awareness about radon and encourage testing, but their effectiveness is often unevaluated.
• Psychological insights into risk perception can illuminate how maps function as risk communication tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of a radon risk map on residents' intentions to test for radon.
• To explore potential mediating mechanisms, such as risk perception and worry, in how maps influence testing intentions.
• To assess the effectiveness of radon risk maps in a real-world public health collaboration.

Main Methods:

• An online experiment was conducted with 1716 British Columbia residents in December 2023.
• Participants completed pre- and post-exposure measures of radon risk perceptions and testing intentions after viewing a radon risk map.
• Multilevel regression and path analysis were used to assess changes in testing intentions and the mediating role of worry, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

• Residents in medium-high and high radon-risk areas showed significantly increased testing intentions post-experiment (p < 0.001).
• A slight decrease in testing intentions was noted among non-smokers in the lowest ecological risk areas (p < 0.001).
• Increased worry mediated the relationship between an individual's perceived radon risk level and their intention to test.

Conclusions:

• Radon risk maps can effectively influence risk perception and promote radon testing, especially in areas with elevated radon levels.
• Targeted communication strategies emphasizing lung cancer severity and its occurrence in non-smokers may be beneficial for promoting testing in lower-risk areas.