The National Research Council (1989) defined risk communication as "...an interactive process of exchange of information and opinions among individuals, groups, and institutions; often involves multiple messages about the nature of the risk or expressing concerns, opinions, or reactions to risk messages or to the legal and institutional arrangements for risk management.”

Health risk communication identifies the community’s concerns and responds to them; it reduces tension between the community and personnel belonging to the institution; and it explains health risks to the community more effectively. It provides an opportunity to communicate the risks in a planned way while remaining sensitive to the needs of the community; it incorporates the community into the risk management process; and it helps to establish trust and alleviate fear and outrage.

Risk communication is challenging, because it requires understanding, but ‘risks’ are often highly complex and based on an ever-changing (and often debated) scientific knowledge base. Risk information must be conveyed in ways that support effective information processing and includes potential solutions or action steps. It is important that risk communications are built on findings from scientific studies of risk communications. Public health professionals must understand the needs of the community and be capable of facilitating dialog about technical aspects of public health risks; they must also be able to identify the psychological, political, social, and economic needs of the community.


According to Covello and Sandman (2001), the evolution of health risk communication has passed through the following four stages:
Stage 1: Ignore the public
Stage 2: Explain the risk data better
Stage 3: Dialog with the community
Stage 4: Include the public as a cooperating partner.

In recent years, health risk communication has played an important role in the prevention and mitigation of adverse consequences to human health from exposure to hazardous substances.

Technology and globalization are important factors in the evolution of risk communication strategies. Rapid technological advances in communications tools are increasing both the speed of information flow, to and from the source and recipient, and the scope of the audience. This results in acceleration of the development of social attitudes and risk perception (Fischhoff, 1995).

Because risk communication is relevant to a variety of fields, the literature is quite diverse. However, there are on-line bibliographies that can serve as an entry-point into the literature:

For links to additional resources please click here.

References
Covello VT, Sandman PM. Risk communication: Evolution and revolution. In: Wolbarst A, ed. Solutions to an Environment in Peril. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins University Press; 2001:164-178.

Fischhoff B. Risk perception and communication unplugged: Twenty years of progress. Risk Analysis 1995;15(2):137-145.

National Research Council (NRC). 1989. Improving Risk Communication. National Academy Press. Washington, DC