Recorded presentation

Deborah C. Glik, ScD¹, Mehrnaz Davoudi, MPH¹, Kim Harrison, MPH², Deborah D. Riopelle, MSPH², Allison Drury, MPH³, and Deirdre Imershein⁴. (1) School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, P.O. Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310 206 9548, dglik@ucla.edu, (2) UCLA Center for Public Health & Disasters, 1145 Gayley Ave, Suite 304, Los Angeles, CA 90024, (3) University of California Los Angeles, School of Public Health, PO Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 900951772, (4) Ruffian Entertainment, 7015 Forbes Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91406

Effective disaster and bioterrorism preparedness communications for the general public is of great interest at present. Formative research conducted for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) assessed general public and first responder perceptions about potential bio-terrorism events. Data were collected about current knowledge of different bioterrorism agents, emotional response to hypothetical attacks, and information seeking preferences. The results of these data were translated into specific messages and formats for the purpose of improving CDC emergency response and preparedness materials to be responsive with audience needs. Main messages about actions that address personal and survival needs, basic agent-specific epidemiological information, and reassurance messages about outcomes of actions and the emergency system response were created. These content elements were incorporated into different message formats, including television and radio interstitials, website and fact sheets. Materials were produced as prototypes for the CDC in early 2004 were then pre-tested. Examples of these prototypes will be shown, and the logic which guided their creation and production will be described. Consideration will be given to aspects of their development, including current news and media markets, public and professional access, ease of use, cost, navigability, and flexibility in different media and with different population groups. This presentation will demonstrate a relatively cost-efficient method of disseminating messages about disaster preparedness using new strategies and technologies.

Learning Objectives: Learning objectives

Audience members will learn about
• bioterrorism risk communications needs among the general public 2)current communications applications for emergency risk communications by the CDC.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Risk Communication

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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