Postal workers' perspectives on communication during the anthrax attack.
In 2001, the nation experienced its first bioterrorism attack, in the form of anthrax sent through the U.S. Postal Service, and public health professionals were challenged to communicate with a critical audience, U.S. postal workers. Postal workers, the first cohort to receive public health messages during a bioterrorist crisis, offer a crucial viewpoint that can be used in the development of best practices in crisis and emergency risk communication. This article reports results of qualitative interviews and focus groups with 65 postal workers employed at three facilities: Trenton, New Jersey; New York City; and Washington, DC. The social context and changing messages were among the factors that damaged trust between postal workers and public health professionals. Lessons learned from this attack contribute to the growing body of knowledge available to guide communications experts and public health professionals charged with crisis and emergency risk communication with the public.
Quinn
Sandra Crouse
SC
Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. SQuinn@pitt.edu
Thomas
Tammy
T
McAllister
Carol
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000881:Anthrax / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D023482:Bioterrorism; D003142:Communication; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011057:Politics; D011177:Postal Service; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012308:Risk Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology