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Risk communication and radiological/nuclear terrorism: a strategic view.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21979539     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
It is now widely recognized that effective communication is a crucial element in radiological/nuclear terrorism preparedness. Whereas in the past, communication and information issues were sometimes viewed as secondary in comparison with technical concerns, today the need to improve risk communication, public information, and emergency messaging is seen as a high priority. The process of improving radiological/nuclear terrorism risk communication can be conceptualized as occurring in four overlapping phases. The first phase involves the recognition that communication and information issues will be pivotal in shaping how a radiological/nuclear terrorism incident unfolds and in determining its outcome. This recognition has helped shape the second phase, in which various research initiatives have been undertaken to provide an empirical basis for improved communication. In the third and most recent phase, government agencies, professional organizations and others have worked to translate research findings into better messages and informational materials. Like the first and second phases, the third phase is still unfolding. The fourth phase in risk communication for radiological/nuclear terrorism-a mature phase-is only now just beginning. Central to this phase is a developing understanding that for radiological/nuclear terrorism risk communication to be fully effective, it must go beyond crafting better messages and materials (as essential as that may be). This emerging fourth phase seeks to anchor radiological/nuclear communication in a broader approach: one that actively engages and partners with the public. In this article, each of the four stages is discussed, and future directions for improving radiological/nuclear terrorism risk communication are explored.
Authors:
Steven M Becker
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Health physics     Volume:  101     ISSN:  1538-5159     ISO Abbreviation:  Health Phys     Publication Date:  2011 Nov 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-10-07     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  2985093R     Medline TA:  Health Phys     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  551-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
* Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Health Science, and Director, Disaster and Emergency Communication Research Unit, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health, 1665 University Boulevard, Room 530, Birmingham, AL 35294-0022.
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