Gaissmaier,W.
Gigerenzer,G.

This chapter addresses how research results and the subsequent public health advice can be effectively communicated back to communities. It also describes the types of methodologies used, how advice impacts on communities and possible changes that could be made to improve the circumpolar communication strategy. Human health risk assessment topics are defined, and risk perception is discussed in general terms. Several national strategies on risk communication and risk management are described. There are significant differences in the national strategies, depending on the severity of contamination and its influence on food security, especially for indigenous peoples. It is concluded that the communication of risk needs to embrace the right-to-know and other fundamental human rights, as well as the precautionary principle. Regular monitoring of food consumption behavior, food safety perspectives, and concerns and determinants of food choice should continue to support the development and provision of information that aids 'informed decision making' by northern residents. Communication of AMAP results should be undertaken in a more professional manner with the help of professional communicators. There is a need for more comprehensive tools and strategies for the communication of AMAP results; for the general population groups, public health purposes and decision makers, and specifically for the most vulnerable indigenous population groups. It is important that governmental authorities give more focus to professional communication strategies and that AMAP should use national authorities to develop communication strategies for this issue. The benefits of traditional food consumption should be communicated along with the results of technical risk assessments to support the provision of information to residents in these regions; to help residents make informed decisions about food and health has become critical to successful risk communication processes. Risk communication must be undertaken with great care and respect toward the receiver culture. Recommendations should always be based on a combination of evidence, experience, and common sense. Pre-testing of messages and an evaluation of risk perception by the public might be beneficial. It is crucial to involve the populations affected as well as external stakeholders (e.g., indigenous organizations) in the communication and evaluation processes in order to build trust and credibility. Good cooperation with the media is also very important. Communication effort should be evaluated systematically and incorporated into AMAP's future monitoring program. Both northern residents and public health professionals require or request more information and support to interpret the implications of such technical risk assessment guidelines, viable risk optimization strategies, and risk communication processes and emerging issues in environmental health and toxicological research. The most effective and rapid risk management strategies are those developed locally with the community that they are designed to assist. Once evaluated for their effectiveness, they can be used as case studies to assist the development of risk reduction strategies in other parts of the Arctic. The key success factors for these strategies will be based on how and when the people most affected are engaged in the decision-making process. Any strategies based on traditional food substitution should ensure that the value of the dietary components is sustained. Human contaminant levels are too high, especially in the Arctic, and there is a need for strongly restricting the use and emissions of chemicals that are persistent, toxic, and able to accumulate in food chains. A forum for initiatives on this topic should be the Stockholm Convention.

Gaissmaier, W., & Gigerenzer, G. (2009). Risk communication. In M. W. Kattan (Ed.), Encyclopedia of medical decision making (Vol. 2, pp. 1006-1008). Los Angeles: Sage. (Full text)

Publication year	2009
Document type:	In book
Publication status:	Published
External URL:	http://library.mpib-berlin.mpg.de/ft/wg/WG_Risk_2009.pdf View
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