Impact of Communication Measures Implemented During a School Tuberculosis Outbreak on Risk Perception among Parents and School Staff, Italy, 2019

Abstract

Risk perception has a significant impact on decisions people make when facing a threat: a mismatch between actual hazard and perceived risk can lead to inappropriate behaviours and suboptimal compliance to recommended public health measures. The present study was conducted in the aftermath of a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak that occurred in 2019 in a primary school in Italy. The aim was to evaluate the impact of communication measures implemented by local health authorities (including face-to-face meetings between LHAs and the local population, weekly press announcements, implementation of a telephone hotline and of an information desk, and social media communication), on risk perception among parents of schoolchildren and school staff, and to identify factors related to a change in risk perception before and after the said activities. An anonymous questionnaire was administered to parents of schoolchildren (n = 846) and to school staff (n = 70). Participants were asked about the level of risk they had perceived at two distinct times: when they first became aware of the outbreak and following implementation of communication activities. A significant reduction of perceived risk was found in both groups (p < 0.001) following the communication activities. The largest reduction was found among participants who reported having appreciated the meetings with the LHA healthcare staff. Our findings suggest that keeping an open approach, explaining the actual threat to the population and adapting communication to different listening skills, are essential for health authorities to successfully manage a public health emergency.

The psychological impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on college students in China

“…Living with parents was another favorable factor against feeling anxious. Previous studies have indicated that the risk factors associated with emotional and anxiety disorders in adults include the death of parents in childhood, not living with parents, and parents' psychological problems and mental illnesses (Woodgate et al,2020;Gentili et al, 2020), which are consistent with the results of this study. Relatives or acquaintances being infected with COVID-19 was an independent risk factor in college students' anxiety about the epidemic, which might be related to the high contagiousness of the new coronavirus pneumonia (World Health Organization, 2020;Song et al, 2019).…”

Effects of Health Information Dissemination on User Follows and Likes during COVID-19 Outbreak in China: Data and Content Analysis

“…If dissemination is efficient, the public will receive accurate information and useful prevention suggestions in a timely manner. This method can help health authorities successfully manage this public health emergency [ 52 ].…”

Psychological Impact of COVID-19 and Lockdown among University Students in Malaysia: Implications and Policy Recommendations

“…Several stressors have been identified as key factors affecting the students’ anxiety and psychological well-being: a parent or associate being infected by COVID-19; monetary issues and their effects on daily life; educational disruptions [ 11 ], effects of the disease on education and potential jobs [ 12 , 34 ]; and sensational broadcasts and inaccurate news reports [ 35 ]. Other stressors include students’ place of residence, family income stability [ 3 , 36 ], parents’ psychological status [ 37 ], reduced social interactions [ 38 ], increased number of new cases and affected provinces [ 13 ], and the imposition of travel bans affecting daily life [ 39 ].…”