scholarly journals Microbial water quality communication: public and practitioner insights from British Columbia, Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 584-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Dunn ◽  
N. Henrich ◽  
B. Holmes ◽  
L. Harris ◽  
N. Prystajecky
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Views

This work examines the communication interactions of water suppliers and health authorities with the general public regarding microbial source water quality for recreational and drinking water. We compare current approaches to risk communication observable in British Columbia (BC), Canada, with best practices derived from the communications literature, finding significant gaps between theory and practice. By considering public views and government practices together, we identify key disconnects, leading to the conclusion that at present, neither the public's needs nor public health officials' goals are being met. We find: (1) there is a general lack of awareness and poor understanding by the public of microbial threats to water and the associated health implications; (2) the public often does not know where to find water quality information; (3) public information needs are not identified or met; (4) information sharing by authorities is predominantly one-way and reactive (crisis-oriented); and (5) the effectiveness of communications is not evaluated. There is a need for both improved public understanding of water quality-related risks, and new approaches to ensure information related to water quality reaches audiences. Overall, greater attention should be given to planning and goal setting related to microbial water risk communication.

scholarly journals “Giving something back”: A systematic review and ethical enquiry into public views on the use of patient data for research in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Stockdale ◽  
Jackie Cassell ◽  
Elizabeth Ford
Keyword(s):  
Common Good ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Patient Data ◽  
Service Planning ◽  
Biomedical Ethics ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Views

Background: Use of patients’ medical data for secondary purposes such as health research, audit, and service planning is well established in the UK. However, the governance environment, as well as public understanding about this work, have lagged behind. We aimed to systematically review the literature on UK and Irish public views of patient data used in research, critically analysing such views though an established biomedical ethics framework, to draw out potential strategies for future good practice guidance and inform ethical and privacy debates.Methods: We searched three databases using terms such as patient, public, opinion, and electronic health records. Empirical studies were eligible for inclusion if they surveyed healthcare users, patients or the public in UK and Ireland and examined attitudes, opinions or beliefs about the use of patient data for medical research. Results were synthesised into broad themes using a framework analysis.Results: Out of 13,492 papers and reports screened, 20 papers or reports were eligible. While there was a widespread willingness to share patient data for research for the common good, this very rarely led to unqualified support. The public expressed two generalised concerns about the potential risks to their privacy. The first of these concerns related to a party’s competence in keeping data secure, while the second was associated with the motivation a party might have to use the data.Conclusions: The public evaluates trustworthiness of research organisations by assessing their competence in data-handling and motivation for accessing the data. Public attitudes around data-sharing exemplified several principles which are also widely accepted in biomedical ethics. This provides a framework for understanding public attitudes, which should be considered in the development in any guidance for regulators and data custodians. We propose four salient questions which decision makers should address when evaluating proposals for the secondary use of data

scholarly journals Challenges and facilitators of public engagement with water, sanitation, hygiene and other environmental health issues in Ghana and Uganda: perspectives of scientists, journalists and the public

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-26
Author(s):  
Bernard Appiah ◽  
Anubhuti Poudyal ◽  
David A. Anum ◽  
George Appiah ◽  
Andrew Christopher Wesuta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Health ◽  
Public Engagement ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
The Public ◽  
Sub Saharan

Abstract Despite many water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and other environmental health challenges in sub-Saharan Africa, little is known about interactions involving scientists, journalists and the public to aid public understanding of the relationship between WASH and health. Using purposive sampling, we conducted key informant interviews and focus group discussions with scientists, journalists and members of the public in Ghana and Uganda to identify issues associated with the promotion of public engagement with WASH and other environmental health issues. An inductive thematic analysis was used to explore the evidence, challenges and opportunities of public engagement. The effectiveness of public engagement was constrained by poor interactions between scientists and journalists and limited understanding among the public on WASH and other environmental health issues. Challenges identified included inadequate scientists–journalists collaborations, scientists' lack of time, pressure from media organizations and concerns about journalists' inadequate capacity to communicate environmental issues due to lack of training. Possible solutions included increased interactions, science communication training and using public information officers as knowledge brokers between scientists and journalists to boost public engagement with WASH and other environmental health issues. Our study contributes to the literature on the need to actively engage the public with WASH and other environmental health concerns.

scholarly journals Scientific risk communication about controversial issues influences public perceptions of scientists' political orientations and credibility

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 170505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Vraga ◽  
Teresa Myers ◽  
John Kotcher ◽  
Lindsey Beall ◽  
Ed Maibach
Keyword(s):  
Risk Communication ◽  
Political Ideology ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
The Political ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
The Public ◽  
Political Perceptions ◽  
Political Orientations ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Public Views

Many scientists communicate with the public about risks associated with scientific issues, but such communication may have unintended consequences for how the public views the political orientations and the credibility of the communicating scientist. We explore this possibility using an experiment with a nationally representative sample of Americans in the fall of 2015. We find that risk communication on controversial scientific issues sometimes influences perceptions of the political orientations and credibility of the communicating scientist when the scientist addresses the risks of issues associated with conservative or liberal groups. This relationship is moderated by participant political ideology, with liberals adjusting their perceptions of the scientists' political beliefs more substantially when the scientist addressed the risks of marijuana use when compared with other issues. Conservatives' political perceptions were less impacted by the issue context of the scientific risk communication but indirectly influenced credibility perceptions. Our results support a contextual model of audience interpretation of scientific risk communication. Scientists should be cognizant that audience members may make inferences about the communicating scientist's political orientations and credibility when they engage in risk communication efforts about controversial issues.

scholarly journals Getting animated about routine data: co-producing a video and toolkit with young families

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Lugg-Widger ◽  
Jeremy Segrott ◽  
Peter Gee ◽  
Joyce Kenkre ◽  
Mike Robling
Keyword(s):  
Child Protection ◽  
Home Visiting ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Data Use ◽  
Routine Data ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Sensitive Data ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Public Views

IntroductionWhile public engagement activity in healthcare may include a focus on uses of patient data, use of social care/ education data may be relatively overlooked. The public may be less aware about how their social care data may be used. Some concepts such as benefits and risks may also differ. Objectives and ApproachOur objective is to co-produce with members of the public a package of materials that researchers may then use to promote public understanding of and engagement in research that uses routine data from health and social care settings. We are running workshops with two groups of young families (teenage mothers, some of whom have received specialist home-visiting support) to explore key concepts and messages about routine data use, including sensitive data such as maltreatment and regulatory child protection interventions. The workshop includes completing a story board for an animated video. This will be co-produced by the same young people. ResultsOur recent work with young families has shown a preference for visual based methods over text-based approaches to explain routine data linkage. This represents a key opportunity for innovation. We have explored how members of the public understand and make sense of routine data from various settings (health/social care) and its use in research. Working with a professional animator, the co-production of a prototype animation aims to engage members of the public about the nature, benefits and safeguards of using routine public records in health and social care research. The presentation will summarise the method of co-production, review the prototype animation and associated materials for researchers (‘toolkit’). Finally, we will recap key messages identified from the workshops that underpin the animation and other dissemination plans. Conclusion/ImplicationsOur existing understanding of public views (e.g. from consumer panels) may not represent well perspectives from population groups, such as teenage parents. Working with young families who may otherwise rarely engage in such work provides their unique perspectives, adding richness to our understanding of public views on routine data usage.

scholarly journals Health authorities’ health risk communication with the public during pandemics: a rapid scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siv Hilde Berg ◽  
Jane K. O’Hara ◽  
Marie Therese Shortt ◽  
Henriette Thune ◽  
Kolbjørn Kallesten Brønnick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Risk Communication ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Source Credibility ◽  
Swine Flu ◽  
H1n1 Pandemic ◽  
The Public ◽  
Protective Behaviour ◽  
Health Authorities

Abstract Background Responses from the H1N1 swine flu pandemic and the recent COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic provide an opportunity for insight into the role of health authorities’ ways of communicating health risk information to the public. We aimed to synthesise the existing evidence regarding different modes of communication used by health authorities in health risk communication with the public during a pandemic. Methods We conducted a rapid scoping review. MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for publications in English from January 2009 through October 2020, covering both the full H1N1 pandemic and the response phase during the COVID-19 pandemic. The search resulted in 1440 records, of which 48 studies met our eligibility criteria. Results The present review identified studies across a broad interdisciplinary field of health risk communication. The majority focused on the H1N1 pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. A content analysis of the studies identified three categories for modes of communication: i) communication channels, ii) source credibility and iii) how the message is communicated. The identified studies on social media focused mainly on content and engagement, while studies on the effect of the use of social media and self-protective behaviour were lacking. Studies on the modes of communication that take the diversity of receivers in the field into account are lacking. A limited number of studies of health authorities’ use of graphic and audio-visual means were identified, yet these did not consider/evaluate creative communication choices. Conclusion Experimental studies that investigate the effect of health authorities’ videos and messages on social media platforms and self-protective behaviour are needed. More studies are needed across the fields of health risk communication and media studies, including visual communication, web design, video and digital marketing, at a time when online digital communication is central to reaching the public.

scholarly journals An Appraisal of Communication Practices Demonstrated by Romanian District Public Health Authorities at the Outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2500
Author(s):  
Mariana Cernicova-Buca ◽  
Adina Palea
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

Communication during an ongoing crisis is a challenging task that becomes even more demanding during a public health crisis. Early in the start of the pandemic, global leaders called upon the public to reject infodemics and access official sources. This article focuses on the communicative aspects of health services management, with a particular focus on the communication strategy of the Romanian district public health authorities during the COVID-19 lockdown, as seen on official websites and social networks. The 15 most affected districts were selected, according to the officially reported health cases. The issued press releases and the posts on Facebook pages show an uneven experience on the part of district authorities in dealing with public information campaigns. In addition, the results of the study indicate a lack of sustainable communication approaches as well as the need of professional training and strategy in dealing with the public health crisis. From a communication point of view, a strategic approach on behalf of the public health sector is crucial to enhance the preparedness of appropriate institutions to act during emergencies and to respond to the needs of the media and the public with timely, correct, and meaningful information.

scholarly journals Analisis Faktor-Faktor Yang Mempengaruhi Akuntabilitas &Transparansi Informasi Keuangan Daerah Melalui Website

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 61
Author(s):  
Indra Agung Wilopo
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
The Public ◽  
Test Models ◽  
Internet Media ◽  
Pressure Area ◽  
Media Delivery

<p><strong><em>Abstracts </em></strong><em>: This research aims to find new evidence, the factors that affect the accountability and transparency of<strong> </strong>financial information via the website area. With the rules and regulations related to the disclosure of public information, as the practice of good governance, all government units are obliged to submit financial information to the public in a transparent manner. One media delivery of such information is through the website. Based on a review of literature and previous research, we use the seven factors suspected to affect the accountabilitty and transparency of financial information via the website area, the factors are the ratio of PAD, the size of the local government, the complexity of the administration, the ratio of debt financing, shopping areas, the level of welfare and quality of financial reporting area. In this study, researchers used the several districts government and cities in Indonesia, and run two test models are logistic regression and multiple linear regression. The results showed that the only factor which the level of welfare significant positive effect on the transparency of financial information via the website regions, whereas other factors had no significant effect. This indicates that the public welfare, which implies the use of Internet media to access the area of financial information. These results imply that the presentation of financial information based pressure area information needs of the community have access to the internet, that people who are already good level of welfare.</em></p>

scholarly journals How to better communicate exponential growth of infectious diseases

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Schonger ◽  
Daniela Sele
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Exponential Growth ◽  
Public Understanding ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Retirement Savings ◽  
The Public ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Doubling Times

AbstractSustained non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) can contain the spread of infectious disease when vaccines or treatments are not available1-3. The benefit of such behavioural adaptations can be modelled as the deceleration of the exponential growth of cases. Humans underestimate exponential growth, as has been documented in biological4, environmental5-6 and financial contexts7-13. Hence, they might also underestimate the benefit of reducing the exponential growth rate. Different ways of communicating the same scenario, i.e. frames, have been found to have a large impact on people’s evaluations and choices in the contexts of social behaviour14,15, risk taking16-19 and health care20-23. Here we show that framing matters for people’s assessment of the benefits of measures to mitigate the spread of infectious disease. In two commonly used frames, most subjects in our experiment drastically underestimate the number of cases mitigation measures avoid. Framing growth in terms of doubling times, rather than growth rates, improves understanding. In a non-standard framing, which focuses on time gained rather than cases avoided, the median subject assesses the benefit of mitigation measures correctly. These findings suggest changes that public health authorities can adopt to communicate the exponential spread of infectious disease more effectively. Beyond public health, the findings have applications to, for example, the regulation of the sale of financial products, retirement savings, education and the public understanding of exponential processes in the environment.

scholarly journals An integrated public information system for geology, groundwater and drinking water in Denmark

2017 ◽  
pp. 69-72
Author(s):  
Martin Hansen ◽  
Charlotte Toftemann Thomsen
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Information System ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Drinking Water Quality ◽  
The Public ◽  
Local Water ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Systematic Collection

Denmark has a long tradition for having central geological databases, including a systematic collection and storage of geological and hydrological information from all surficial boreholes which was initiated in 1926. Since the mid-1970s such data have been stored digitally. A large variety of users access a central Danish, geological database: the public, for information about their local drinking water quality, environmental employees in municipalities, regions and the state for using, entering and updating data as well as consultants and drilling companies working for public administration and local water works.

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