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1.
Alzheimers Dement ; 2024 Aug 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39087383

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: We disclosed amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) results in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and studied patient experiences and outcomes over a 6-month period. METHODS: Fifty-seven participants from the Subjective Cognitive Impairment Cohort (SCIENCe) (66 ± 8 years, 21 [37%] F, Mini-Mental State Examination 29 ± 1, 15 [26%] amyloid positive [A+]) completed questionnaires 1 week prior (T0), 1 day after (T1), and 6 months after amyloid PET disclosure (T2). Questionnaires addressed patient-reported experiences and outcomes. RESULTS: Independent of amyloid status, participants were satisfied with the consultation (scale 1-10; 7.9 ± 1.7) and information provided (scale 1-4; T1: 3.3 ± 0.9, T2: 3.2 ± 0.8). After 6 months, A+ participants reported more information needs (45% vs. 12%, p = 0.02). Independent of amyloid status, decision regret (scale 1-5; A+: 1.5 ± 0.9, A-: 1.4 ± 0.6, p = 0.53) and negative emotions (negative affect, uncertainty, anxiety) were low (all p > 0.15 and Pinteraction > 0.60). DISCUSSION: Participants with SCD valued amyloid PET disclosure positively, regardless of amyloid status. The need for information after 6 months, which was stronger in A+ individuals, underscores the importance of follow-up. HIGHLIGHTS: Participants with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) positively valued amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) disclosure. Participants with SCD experienced low levels of decision regret. We did not observe an increase in negative emotions. After 6 months, amyloid-positive individuals wanted more information.

2.
Int J Circumpolar Health ; 83(1): 2387381, 2024 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39097940

ABSTRACT

The development and dissemination of health messaging is a critical component of reducing health disparities. Participants (n = 87) from a human biomonitoring study in six Dene communities responded to a survey about health communication regarding contaminants. The survey included questions on awareness of health messages and risk perceptions related to country foods and contaminants. The vast majority of participants reported eating country foods (99%) and heard that country foods had beneficial nutrients (90%). Seventy per cent of respondents had heard or seen messages about fish with high levels of mercury, and 60% had concerns about the safety or quality of country foods they consumed. Respondents who reported decreasing the number of fish they ate since hearing the messages about fish and mercury had lower (p = 0.04) mercury concentration in hair, compared to those who had not heard the messages. However, no differences in hair mercury were observed for respondents who reported to have changed their fishing location, chosen smaller fish or eaten less predatory fish since hearing the messages. Results indicate the need to examine reasons for self-reported behaviour changes, in addition to awareness. The conclusions of this study can inform the development of messaging and risk management decisions about contaminants within Indigenous populations.


Subject(s)
Food Contamination , Hair , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Mercury , Humans , Female , Male , Adult , Mercury/analysis , Middle Aged , Hair/chemistry , Food Contamination/analysis , Northwest Territories , Fishes , Animals , Young Adult , Arctic Regions , Seafood/analysis , Adolescent , Aged
3.
Med Decis Making ; : 272989X241263040, 2024 Jul 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39056311

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Icon arrays have been shown to be an effective method for communicating medical risk information. However, in practice, icon arrays used to visualize personal risks often differ in the type and color of the icons. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of icon type and color on the perception and recall of cardiovascular risk, as little is known about how color affects the perception of icon arrays. METHODS: A total of 866 participants aged 40 to 90 years representative of the German population in terms of gender and age completed an online experiment. Using a 2 × 2 between-subjects design, participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 experimental groups. They received their hypothetical 10-year cardiovascular risk using an icon array that varied by icon type (smiley v. person) and color (black/white v. red/yellow). We measured risk perception, emotional response, intentions of taking action to reduce the risk (e.g., increasing one's physical activity), risk recall, and graph evaluation/trustworthiness, as well as numeracy and graphical literacy. RESULTS: Icon arrays using person icons were evaluated more positively. There was no effect of icons or color on risk perception, emotional response, intentions of taking action to reduce the risk, or trustworthiness of the graph. While more numerate/graphical literate participants were more likely to correctly recall the presented risk estimate, icon type and color did not influence the probability of correct recall. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in the perception of the tested icon arrays were rather small, suggesting that they may be equally suitable for communicating medical risks. Further research on the robustness of these results across other colors, icons, and risk domains could add to guidelines on the design of visual aids. HIGHLIGHTS: The use of different icons and colors did not influence the perception and the probability of recalling the 10-year cardiovascular risk, the emotional response, or the intentions to reduce the presented risk.Icon arrays with person icons were evaluated more positively.There was no evidence to suggest that the effectiveness of the studied icon arrays varied based on individuals' levels of numerical or graphical literacy, nor did it differ between people with or without a history of CVD or on medication for an increased CVD risk.

4.
Animals (Basel) ; 14(14)2024 Jul 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39061497

ABSTRACT

Exotic animals traded and kept as pets can transmit a variety of diseases to humans and other animals, and vice versa. Therefore, it is essential for pet owners, particularly vulnerable groups, to be informed about associated risks. Veterinarians play a crucial role in informing pet owners about health risks associated with zoonotic pathogens and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and should, therefore, have good communication skills to effectively transfer information to pet owners. Thus, exotic pet owners in Germany were surveyed on animal husbandry, veterinary consultation and risk communication. To evaluate the perception of communication, a self-developed questionnaire was used to derive a communication score. The perception of veterinarian communication received a high average score showing a high level of satisfaction. The duration of the veterinarian-client relationship was associated with better communication perception, and the frequency of communication on zoonoses and AMR was associated with the presence of a permanent veterinarian. However, the results indicated that the frequency of disseminated information on zoonoses and/or AMR from veterinarians was lower than desired by the pet owners. Therefore, more educational material on zoonoses and AMR should be made available, and the awareness concerning risk communication should be increased by further education and training at universities.

5.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39046629

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Research has shown that cancer genetic risk is often not well understood by patients undergoing genetic testing and counseling. We describe the barriers to understanding genetic risk and the needs of high-risk persons and cancer survivors who have undergone genetic testing. METHODS: Using data from an internet survey of adults living in the USA who responded 'yes' to having ever had a genetic test to determine cancer risk (N = 696), we conducted bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate associations between demographic, clinical, and communication-related variables by our key outcome of having vs. not having enough information about genetics and cancer to speak with family. Percentages for yes and no responses to queries about unmet informational needs were calculated. Patient satisfaction with counseling and percentage disclosure of genetic risk status to family were also calculated. RESULTS: We found that a lack of resources provided by provider to inform family members and a lack of materials provided along with genetic test results were strongly associated with not having enough information about genetics and cancer (OR 4.54 95% CI 2.40-8.59 and OR 2.19 95% CI 1.16-4.14 respectively). Among participants undergoing genetic counseling, almost half reported needing more information on what genetic risk means for them and their family and how genetic testing results might impact future screening. CONCLUSION: High levels of satisfaction with genetic counseling may not give a full picture of the patient-provider interaction and may miss potential unmet needs of the patient. Accessible resources and ongoing opportunities for updating family history information could reinforce knowledge about genetic risk.

6.
Risk Anal ; 2024 Jul 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38991782

ABSTRACT

The term "real risk" and variations of this term are commonly used in everyday speech and writing, and in the scientific literature. There are mainly two types of use: i) in statements about what the real risk related to an activity is and ii) in statements about the risk related to an activity being real. The former type of use has been extensively discussed in the literature, whereas the latter type has received less attention. In the present study, we review both types of use and analyze and discuss potential meanings of type ii) statements. We conclude that it is reasonable to interpret a statement about the risk being real as reflecting a judgement that there is some risk and that the knowledge supporting this statement is relatively strong. However, such a statement does not convey whether the risk is small or large and needs to be supplemented by a characterization of the risk.

7.
Int J Circumpolar Health ; 83(1): 2371623, 2024 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38985974

ABSTRACT

Arctic populations are amongst the highest exposed populations to long-range transported contaminants globally, with the main exposure pathway being through the diet. Dietary advice is an important immediate means to address potential exposure and help minimize adverse health effects. The objective of this work is to enable easier access to dietary advice and communication guidance on contaminants with a focus on the Arctic. This manuscript is part of a special issue summarizing the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme's Assessment 2021: Human Health in the Arctic. The information was derived with internet searches, and by contacting relevant experts directly. Results include risk communication efforts in European Arctic countries, effectiveness evaluation studies for several Arctic countries, experience of social media use, and the advantages and challenges of using social media in risk communication. We found that current risk communication activities in most Arctic countries emphasize the importance of a nutritious diet. Contaminant-related restrictions are mostly based on mercury; a limited amount of dietary advice is based on other contaminants. While more information on effectiveness evaluation was available, specific information, particularly from Arctic countries other than Canada, is still very limited.


Subject(s)
Environmental Exposure , Arctic Regions , Humans , Environmental Exposure/adverse effects , Environmental Exposure/analysis , Diet , Social Media , Environmental Pollutants , Food Contamination
8.
BMC Public Health ; 24(1): 1889, 2024 Jul 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39010017

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Against the backdrop of the global public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed significant disparities in the supply and demand of risk information related to public health crises, posing severe challenges to risk governance in megacities. Shanghai, China, introduced community WeChat groups for community communication, effectively facilitating the dissemination and response of grassroots information and providing a new path for interactive governance in the community. METHODS: This study collected 1006 questionnaires from residents of 350 communities in Shanghai through an online survey between June 10 and July 10, 2022. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine the impact of different participants (including the community, core residents, and the combined community and core residents) on community risk communication, perceived communication quality, and dissemination themes related to COVID-19 on community communication satisfaction. Additionally, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 core residents from different types of communities, focusing on the specific methods of risk communication through community WeChat groups and their ability to disseminate information, respond to, and solve problems. RESULTS: Perceived information coverage and perceived response efficiency are significantly positively correlated with communication satisfaction. Notably, the speed of community information response has the greatest impact on communication satisfaction. Regarding COVID-19-related information dissemination themes, "community outbreaks, supplies, nucleic acids, outbreak prevention measures, and scientific content" all have a significant impact on communication effectiveness, with "nucleic acid testing information" having the greatest impact. Although the statistical data indicate that the participation of core residents in risk communication does not significantly affect communication satisfaction, it seems to be related to the size of the community, and the interview results further validate this conclusion. CONCLUSION: In the future, grassroots communities should consider the affordances of social media, recognize the significant correlation between risk communication and grassroots trust, and formulate more detailed and targeted risk communication strategies. In particular, incorporating core residents into "semiformal" grassroots organizations can improve community service quality, thereby enhancing community resilience in the face of public health emergencies.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Communication , Social Media , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , COVID-19/psychology , China/epidemiology , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Cities , Information Dissemination/methods , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemics , Young Adult , Aged
9.
Vaccine ; 2024 Jun 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38852038

ABSTRACT

Amid the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambodia emerges as a notable exemplar, boasting a remarkable vaccination rate of 91% of its population by the end of 2021. This success can be attributed to a multifaceted approach encompassing strong governmental leadership, robust vaccine management, and effective risk communication. Despite notable success, challenges persisted in reaching unvaccinated segments of the population. Rapid Coverage and Community assessments (RCCAs) supported by UNICEF were deployed in 2022 and 2023 to support Government efforts in expanding vaccination reach to missed populations and bolster COVID-19 booster doses. RCCAs were conducted across 8 provinces, assessing 13,547 individuals from 87 low-coverage communes to identify not vaccinated people and understand their barriers. Overall, only seven percent missed any dose of C-19 vaccine, Disabilities and lack of education correlated with higher rates of zero doses (20.8% and 17.8%, respectively), with concerns about personal health conditions (25%) and adverse effects (10%) cited as top reasons for non-vaccination. RCCAs, differing from routine monitoring, utilized purposive sampling to identify barriers to vaccine access and uptake. Findings informed adaptive strategies by government and partners to enhance outreach in low-coverage areas. The RCCAs played a crucial role at the local level in ensuring vaccinations reached overlooked populations, providing innovative solutions and supporting UNICEF's national strategies. By the end of 2022, Cambodia achieved a high subnational coverage, contributing to a national coverage of 95% for primary doses and nearly 70% for the first booster for everyone above three years old. RCCAs also fostered local coordination, facilitating resource sharing, and coordinated action for more effective local outreach and community trust. Integration of RCCAs into national immunization programs is recommended to develop targeted outreach for underserved populations, including zero-dose children and communities. Cambodia's adaptation of RCCAs during the pandemic offers valuable insights into identifying and engaging missed populations, highlighting the importance of community involvement and targeted interventions for future pandemic preparedness, and achieving more equitable health outcomes in the longer-term.

10.
Disasters ; : e12641, 2024 Jun 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38860631

ABSTRACT

Post-tropical cyclone Fiona made landfall in Nova Scotia, Canada, in September 2022 with the force of a Category 2 hurricane. Using 'risk society' as an analytical framework, and Thomas A. Birkland's 'focusing event' concept, this paper seeks to understand how publics construct risk in the context of climate change and how institutions engage with those narratives. A qualitative content analysis of 439 newspaper articles from across Canada reveals that most media provide a superficial description of hazard impacts. When media are critical, they connect Fiona to climate change, other extreme events, social vulnerability, and systemic inequality. In response to Fiona and industry trends, insurance representatives indicate a withdraw from covering low-probability, high-consequence events owing to ambiguity in risk analysis and financial interests, complicating hazard relief. Political actors' rhetoric is strong-delivering relief in unprecedented ways and offering new adaptive policy. However, a history of unfulfilled political promises to act on climate change elicits scepticism from media sources.

11.
J Soc Psychol ; : 1-15, 2024 Jun 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38884469

ABSTRACT

Risk communication involves conveying potential risks to the audience. It's crucial for shaping behavior and influencing individual well-being. Previous research predominantly focused on verbal and written aspects of risk communication, with less emphasis on nonverbal cues like vocal tone. Addressing this gap, our study explores the impact of competent and warm vocal tones on risk communication across two risky decision-making paradigms, the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) in Study 1 and the Gambling Task in Study 2. Results show that competent and warm vocal tones are more persuasive than neutral tones, and their effectiveness varies in different decision-making scenarios. Additionally, participants' perceived competence and warmth of vocal tones mediate this persuasiveness. This study enhances our theoretical understanding of risk communication by incorporating the impact of vocal tones. Also, it carries practical implications for marketers and practitioners, demonstrating the importance of using voice as a medium to persuade in real-world scenarios.

12.
Front Public Health ; 12: 1410713, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38939559

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Ticks and pathogens they carry seriously impact human and animal health, with some diseases like Lyme and Alpha-gal syndrome posing risks. Searching for health information online can change people's health and preventive behaviors, allowing them to face the tick risks. This study aimed to predict the potential risks of tickborne diseases by examining individuals' online search behavior. Methods: By scrutinizing the search trends across various geographical areas and timeframes within the United States, we determined outdoor activities associated with potential risks of tick-related diseases. Google Trends was used as the data collection and analysis tool due to its accessibility to big data on people's online searching behaviors. We interact with vast amounts of population search data and provide inferences between population behavior and health-related phenomena. Data were collected in the United States from April 2022 to March 2023, with some terms about outdoor activities and tick risks. Results and Discussion: Results highlighted the public's risk susceptibility and severity when participating in activities. Our results found that searches for terms related to tick risk were associated with the five-year average Lyme Disease incidence rates by state, reflecting the predictability of online health searching for tickborne disease risks. Geographically, the results revealed that the states with the highest relative search volumes for tick-related terms were predominantly located in the Eastern region. Periodically, terms can be found to have higher search records during summer. In addition, the results showed that terms related to outdoor activities, such as "corn maze," "hunting," "u-pick," and "park," have moderate associations with tick-related terms. This study provided recommendations for effective communication strategies to encourage the public's adoption of health-promoting behaviors. Displaying warnings in the online search results of individuals who are at high risk for tick exposure or collaborating with outdoor activity locations to disseminate physical preventive messages may help mitigate the risks associated with tickborne diseases.


Subject(s)
Search Engine , Tick-Borne Diseases , Humans , Tick-Borne Diseases/prevention & control , Tick-Borne Diseases/epidemiology , United States , Animals , Search Engine/statistics & numerical data , Internet , Lyme Disease/prevention & control , Lyme Disease/epidemiology , Ticks , Information Seeking Behavior
13.
Environ Int ; 190: 108844, 2024 Jun 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38941943

ABSTRACT

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) receive global attention due to their adverse effects on human health and the environment. Fish consumption is a major source of human PFAS exposure. The aim of this work was to address the lack of harmonization within legislations (in the EU and the USA) and highlight the level of PFAS in fish exposed to pollution from diffuse sources in the context of current safety thresholds. A non-exhaustive literature review was carried out to obtain PFAS concentrations in wild fish from the Norwegian mainland, Svalbard, the Netherlands, the USA, as well as sea regions (North Sea, English Channel, Atlantic Ocean), and farmed fish on the Dutch market. Median sum wet weight concentrations of PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, and PFOS ranged between 0.1 µg kg-1 (farmed fish) and 22 µg kg-1 (Netherlands eel). Most concentrations fell below the EU environmental quality standard (EQSbiota) for PFOS (9.1 µg kg-1) and would not be defined as polluted in the EU. However, using recent tolerable intake or reference dose values in the EU and the USA revealed that even limited fish consumption would lead to exceedance of these thresholds - possibly posing a challenge for risk communication.

14.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 14607, 2024 Jun 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38918505

ABSTRACT

Risk assessments are common in multiple domains, from finance to medicine. They require evaluating an event's potential severity and likelihood. We investigate the possible dependence of likelihood and severity within the domain of impact-based weather forecasting (IBF), following predictions derived from considering asymmetric loss functions. In a collaboration between UK psychologists and partners from four meteorological organisations in Southeast Asia, we conducted two studies (N = 363) eliciting weather warnings from forecasters. Forecasters provided warnings denoting higher likelihoods for high severity impacts than low severity impacts, despite these impacts being described as having the same explicit numerical likelihood of occurrence. This 'Severity effect' is pervasive, and we find it can have a continued influence even for an updated forecast. It is additionally observed when translating warnings made on a risk matrix to numerical probabilities.

15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38904366

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We sought to analyze interactive visualizations and animations of health probability data (such as chances of disease or side effects) that have been studied in head-to-head comparisons with either static graphics or numerical communications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Secondary analysis of a large systematic review on ways to communicate numbers in health. RESULTS: We group the research to show that 4 types of animated or interactive visualizations have been studied by multiple researchers: those that simulate experience of probabilistic events; those that demonstrate the randomness of those events; those that reduce information overload by directing attention sequentially to different items of information; and those that promote elaborative thinking. Overall, these 4 types of visualizations do not show strong evidence of improving comprehension, risk perception, or health behaviors over static graphics. DISCUSSION: Evidence is not yet strong that interactivity or animation is more effective than static graphics for communicating probabilities in health. We discuss 2 possibilities: that the most effective visualizations haven't been studied, and that the visualizations aren't effective. CONCLUSION: Future studies should rigorously compare participant performance with novel interactive or animated visualizations against their performance with static visualizations. Such evidence would help determine whether health communicators should emphasize novel interactive visualizations or rely on older forms of visual communication, which may be accessible to broader audiences, including those with limited digital access.

16.
Health Psychol Behav Med ; 12(1): 2361005, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38831975

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is a common cancer among young women aged 25-29 in England, and the NHS cervical screening leaflet is the first point of contact for those being invited for their first screening. This study aimed to explore how young women (18-24) understand and engage with the leaflet, as well as the barriers and facilitators associated with its interpretation, engagement, and screening intentions. METHODS: The study used a mixed-methods approach, including a survey (n = 120) to identify interpretation difficulties and how they were affected by different characteristics, and a follow-up interview (n = 10) to assess the utility of the leaflet, identify issues with its practicality, and determine the factors that influence screening intentions. RESULTS: The survey results showed that interpretation difficulties were common, particularly regarding HPV assessment, screening results, additional tests/treatment, and screening risks. Lower interpretation accuracy was associated with lower numeracy scores and non-white ethnicity. Despite these difficulties, participants had high confidence and motivation to engage with the leaflet. The interviews revealed knowledge gaps, issues with the leaflet's practicality, and a preference for digital information. Factors that were identified as barriers and facilitators of leaflet interpretation, engagement, and screening intentions included knowledge, social influence, beliefs about consequences, environmental context and resources, social role and identity, emotions and intentions. CONCLUSION: The current leaflet does not provide enough information for young women to make an informed decision about screening attendance. Implementing a digital invitation featuring simplified gist representation, targeted behaviour change techniques (BCTs), videos, and interactive tools can enhance education and promote screening behaviour. Future research should consider using digital tools and strategies to address existing barriers related to interpretation and engagement.

17.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep ; 18: e98, 2024 Jun 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38832542

ABSTRACT

Disasters can cause great physical and financial damage to pet owners in developing countries. These effects lead to severe psychological side effects on individuals and families. With the tendency of families to keep pets in these countries, many challenges have arisen regarding how to manage these pets before, during, and after disasters. Therefore, mitigation, prevention, and preparedness measures for these families should be prioritized in the disaster management cycle to minimize psychological effects such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after losing pets.


Subject(s)
Communication , Developing Countries , Pets , Humans , Developing Countries/statistics & numerical data , Pets/psychology , Animals , Disasters/statistics & numerical data , Perception , Disaster Planning/methods , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology
18.
Public Underst Sci ; : 9636625241253968, 2024 Jun 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38863414

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus pandemic increased the role played by scientific advisers in counselling governments and citizens on issues around public health. This raises questions about how citizens evaluate scientists, and in particular the grounds on which they trust them. Previous studies have identified various factors associated with trust in scientists, although few have systematically explored a range of judgements and their relative effects. This study takes advantage of scientific advisers' heightened public profile during the pandemic to explore how people's trust in scientists is shaped by perceptions of their features and traits, along with evaluations of their behaviour and role within the decision-making process. The study also considers people's trust in politicians, thereby enabling us to identify whether trust in scientists reflects similar or distinctive considerations to trust in partisan actors. Data are derived from specially designed conjoint experiments and surveys of nationally representative samples in Britain and the United States.

19.
Hum Vaccin Immunother ; 20(1): 2361943, 2024 Dec 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38855961

ABSTRACT

Understanding the communication dynamics between vaccine-hesitant parents and healthcare professionals (HCPs) is vital for addressing parent concerns and promoting informed decision-making. This paper focuses on strategies used by HCPs to communicate with vaccine-hesitant parents. It draws on empirical evidence generated as part of the international project VAX-TRUST. More specifically, 60 hours of observations were carried out in three different pediatric practices during vaccination-related visits, and 19 physicians and nurses were interviewed. We focused on the specific context of the Czech Republic, which represents a country with a mandatory vaccination system and in which children's immunization is the responsibility of pediatric general practitioners. We demonstrate that the dynamics between parents and HCPs and their willingness to invest time in the vaccination discussion are influenced by how HCPs categorize and label parents. Furthermore, we outline some of the different strategies HCPs employ while addressing concerns regarding vaccination. We identified two different strategies HCPs use to manage the fears of vaccine-hesitant parents. The first strategy focused on the communication of risks associated with vaccination (and lack thereof). HCPs used a variety of discursive practices to familiarize the unfamiliar risks of vaccine-preventable diseases (by mobilizing representations that are part of collective memory, incorporating personal experiences to materialize the presence of risk and the confidence in the safety of vaccines and by situating risk as embedded in everyday processes and integral to the uncertainty of the global world). The second strategy involved the conscious employment of medical procedures that may contribute to reducing vaccination fears.


Subject(s)
Communication , Health Personnel , Parents , Vaccination Hesitancy , Vaccination , Humans , Parents/psychology , Health Personnel/psychology , Vaccination Hesitancy/psychology , Vaccination Hesitancy/statistics & numerical data , Vaccination/psychology , Female , Male , Czech Republic , Vaccines/administration & dosage , Decision Making , Adult , Professional-Family Relations , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Child , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology
20.
Med Decis Making ; : 272989X241258466, 2024 Jun 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38903012

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Despite decades of research on risk-communication approaches, questions remain about the optimal methods for conveying risks for different outcomes across multiple time points, which can be necessary in applications such as discrete choice experiments (DCEs). We sought to compare the effects of 3 design factors: 1) separated versus integrated presentations of the risks for different outcomes, 2) use or omission of icon arrays, and 3) vertical versus horizontal orientation of the time dimension. METHODS: We conducted a randomized study among a demographically diverse sample of 2,242 US adults recruited from an online panel (mean age 59.8 y, s = 10.4 y; 21.9% African American) that compared risk-communication approaches that varied in the 3 factors noted above. The primary outcome was the number of correct responses to 12 multiple-choice questions asking survey respondents to identify specific numbers, contrast options to recognize dominance (larger v. smaller risks), and compute differences. We used linear regression to test the effects of the 3 design factors, controlling for health literacy, graph literacy, and numeracy. We also measured choice consistency in a subsequent DCE choice module. RESULTS: Mean comprehension varied significantly across versions (P < 0.001), with higher comprehension in the 3 versions that provided separated risk information for each risk. In the multivariable regression, separated risk presentation was associated with 0.58 more correct responses (P < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 0.39, 0.77) compared with integrated risk information. Neither providing icon arrays nor using vertical versus horizontal time formats affected comprehension rates, although participant understanding did correlate with DCE choice consistency. CONCLUSIONS: In presentations of multiple risks over multiple time points, presenting risk information separately for each health outcome appears to increase understanding. HIGHLIGHTS: When conveying information about risks of different outcomes at multiple time points, separate presentations of single-outcome risks resulted in higher comprehension than presentations that combined risk information for different outcomes.We also observed benefits of presenting single-outcome risks separately among respondents with lower numeracy and graph literacy.Study participants who scored higher on risk understanding were more internally consistent in their responses to a discrete choice experiment.

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