Recorded presentation

Ann E Norwood, MD, Senior Advisor for Public Health Risk Communication, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC, DC 20201, 202-690-6750, Ann.Norwood@hhs.gov

The management of psychological distress as well as the need to assure necessary preparedness and response behaviors requires consideration of the risk communication needs of communities and the nation. Risk communication is an integral part of a public health strategy for managing the psychological and behavioral consequences of terrorism. In the pre-event phases of terrorism, risk communication can inform the development of public health campaigns for preparedness in communities and the workplace. Effective messaging can engage reluctant populations to create family and family/work and school communication plans. In the workplace, risk communication can educate employees about important disaster behaviors that can prevent, mitigate and foster recovery from terrorism. This includes knowledge and practice of evacuation techniques and drills, shelter-in-place. During a terrorist attack, risk communication is essential for managing individual and collective responses that can result in either productive or counterproductive behaviors. In the post-event phases of terrorism, risk communication can educate individuals and organizations to discern between normal distress and clinical disorders that require help seeking and treatment. Such messages to address the fears and family concerns of communities may increase response behaviors for necessary medical interventions (e.g. vaccination, shelter in place, medication adherence) as well as decrease secondary stressors related. Education of community leaders, and organizations such as schools, hospitals and workplaces to provide information directed to answering what is known, what is not known and what is being done can increase trust as well as encourage necessary behaviors.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the role of risk communication as part of a public health strategy for managing the psychological consequences of terrorism
• Learn key principles of risk communication that are essential for public health leadership in terrorism
• Identify interventions that risk communication can facilitate in the pre-event, event and post-event phases of terrorism

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: U.S. Dept of HHS
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation