Managing measurable and perceived risk in the occupational setting.
The occupational health clinic frequently has an important role to play in the communication of workplace risks to employees. Effective communication can be facilitated through a clear understanding about the nature and amount of actual risk. Unfortunately, epidemiologists and other health researchers are often reluctant to interpret the quantitative measures of risk that they report in their studies. This article describes various epidemiological risk measures including measures of disease frequency, measures of disease association with exposure, interaction, and measures of attributable risk, and how they are derived. Recommendations for effective risk communication are given.
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School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D010559:Personnel Management / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States