Risk communication

Question 1

Define risk

Answer 1

A probability or threat of damage, injury, loss, or any other negative occurrence that is caused by external or internal vulnerabilities, and that may be avoided through preemptive action

Question 2

What are two equations for risk?

Answer 2

1. Risk = probability X severity

2. Risk = hazard + outrage

Question 3

T/F: The risks that upset people are generally completely different than the risks that kill people

Answer 3

TRUE

Question 4

Is zero risk achievable?

Answer 4

no

Question 5

What is risk perception?

Answer 5

It is a combination of thought and emotion; thinking (logic) focuses on the hazard and the probability it will occur

Question 6

Implications of the hazard are known as ________

Answer 6

Consequences

Question 7

What are the four common human reactions to risk? List them from most frequent to least frequent.

Answer 7

Acceptance (most)
Fear
Denial
Panic (least)

Question 8

What are some characteristics of fear? (fear factors)

Answer 8

Automatic, it comes early, temporary, small over-reaction, it may need guidance, slow to extinguish, easily re-established, CONTAGIOUS

Question 9

T/F: Denial is less common than fear, but it is more dangerous than fear

Answer 9

TRUE

Question 10

How can denial be reduced?

Answer 10

When fear is legitimized
Actions are taken to address fear
We make decisions to act from a given range of options

Question 11

Fill in the blanks:

Trust is: ______ acquired, ________ extinguished, and ______ to re-establish

Answer 11

slowly acquired
readily extinguished
difficult to re-establish

Question 12

What is risk communication?

Answer 12

Public health activities to ensure that messages and strategies designed to prevent exposure, adverse human health effects, and diminish quality of life are effectively communicated to the public

Question 13

What are some harmful human behaviors that can be noted during a crisis?

Answer 13

Demands for unneeded treatment - by healthy people who are just panicked
Looting/stealing
Bribery/fraud
Increase tobacco/alcohol use
MUPS: increased multiple unexplained physical symptoms - this is usually related to stress

Question 14

What are the 4 tasks of risk communication?

Answer 14

Outrage management
Crisis communication
Pre-caution advocacy
Keeping an open dialog

Question 15

Fill in the blanks (low or high)

When the hazard is _____ and outrage is ______; the communication task is - Precaution advocacy

Answer 15

High- hazard

Low- outrage

*alerting insufficiently upset people to serious risk

Question 16

Fill in the blanks (low or high)

When hazard is _____ and outrage is ______; the communication task is - Outrage management

Answer 16

Low-hazard

High - outrage

Reassuring excessively upset people about small risks

Question 17

Fill in the blanks (low or high)

When the hazard is ____ and the outrage is ____; the communication task is - crisis communication

Answer 17

High- hazard

High outrage

Helping appropriately upset people cope with serious risks

Question 18

When the hazard and outrage are both intermediate; what is the communication task?

Answer 18

That is the “sweet spot”. Keep lines of communication open

Dialoging with interested people about a significant but not urgent risk

Question 19

What are some common risk communication mistakes in vetmed?

Answer 19

Withholding information (with the intent to prevent panic)

Over assurance of audience (to lessen the public’s fear)

Question 20

What is the risk communication life cycle?

Answer 20

pre crisis
initial
maintenance
resolution
evaluation

Question 21

What steps should be taken in the pre crisis phase?

Answer 21

Be prepared
foster alliances
test messages

Question 22

What steps should be taken in the initial phases of risk communication

Answer 22

*acknowledge the event with EMPATHY
explain and inform the public in the simplest forms
establish spokesperson credibility
Provide emergency course of action
continue communication

Question 23

What steps should be taken in the maintenance phase is risk communications?

Answer 23

Help public more accurately understand risks
provide background info to those who need it
Gain understanding and suppose for response and recovery plans
Empower risk/benefit decision making
Correct misinformation

Question 24

What are the goals of the resolution phase of risk communications?

Answer 24

Improve public response in future similar emergencies through education
Examine problems and mishaps and reinforce what works
Persuade the public to support policy and resource allocation to the problem

Question 25

What is evaluated in the last phase of risk communication?

Answer 25

Communication plan and performance

Document lessons learned

Determine specific actions to improve crisis systems or in the crisis plan