title: Societal perspectives on risk awareness and risk competence.
abstract: Medical risks can be assessed by objectifiable therapeutic features; however, these risks are also characterised to a considerable degree by individual and social values. People tend to strive towards both freedom as well as safety; in a medical context, these two aims are taken into account by shared decision-making models and by stricter regulations in the pharmaceutical sector. Media reports on medical risks are caught between providing information and economic interests, and this conflict particularly complicates rational discussions about unexpected risks (for instance, in the field of natural medicine). Thus, it is necessary to create the type of information culture which allows differentiating between real and less pronounced risks.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Clinical Studies, University Hospital Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koller
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hoffrage
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D061214:Patient Safety; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: decision-making processes; freedom of choice; information culture; risk communication; risk minimisation; risk society; safety