Assessing knowledge and application of emergency risk communication principles among public health workers in China.
OBJECTIVE
Since 2003, the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission (formerly the Ministry of Health) has implemented changes to more effectively communicate risk during public health emergencies. In spite of ongoing improvements, provincial and sub-provincial leaders face barriers, such as established modes of operation, lack of training, shortage of trained risk communicators, and limited understanding and willingness of recipients to mitigate risks.


METHODS
We assessed the current status of and barriers to risk communication knowledge and practice among public health practitioners in China. We designed the survey questionnaire to capture information related to the risk communication core capacities required by international health regulations and common risk communication principles.


RESULTS
Our findings showed that risk communication training has successfully developed an awareness of risk communication principles and the ability to implement those principles in practice in China.


CONCLUSIONS
Future efforts should focus on areas such as a dedicated risk communication workforce, requirements that public health agencies develop a risk communication plan, and additional training for public health practitioners and their partners. It is critical that the infectious diseases prevention and control law be amended to grant provincial and local public health agencies more autonomy to release information.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Global Disease Detection Branch, Atlanta, GA.
James R
JR
Cope
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Center for Global Health, Global Disease Detection Branch, Atlanta, GA.
Melinda
M
Frost
China Emerging Infectious Diseases Program, Beijing, China.
Li
L
Richun
Chinese Center for Health Education, Beijing, China.
Ruiqian
R
Xie
D002681:China; D003142:Communication; D004190:Disasters; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011050:Policy Making; D015980:Public Health Practice; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires