Original Research

Process and components of disaster risk communication in health systems: A thematic analysis

Arezoo Dehghani, Zohreh Ghomian, Sakineh Rakhshanderou, Hamidreza Khankeh, Amir Kavousi
Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies | Vol 14, No 1 | a1367 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/jamba.v14i1.1367 | © 2022 Arezoo Dehghani, Zohreh Ghomian, Sakineh Rakhshanderou, Hamidreza Khankeh, Amir Kavousi | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 19 July 2022 | Published: 08 December 2022

About the author(s)

Arezoo Dehghani, Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
Zohreh Ghomian, Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
Sakineh Rakhshanderou, Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of
Hamidreza Khankeh, Department of Health in Emergency and Disaster, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran; and, Department of Clinical Science and Education, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
Amir Kavousi, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Islamic Republic of

Abstract

Risk communication (RC) is one of the necessary functions in disaster management. Establishing communication processes such as planning, transparency of policies and guidelines, RC expert training, providing communication infrastructure and evaluation in the shortest period reduces confusion and management inconsistency. One of the existing challenges is not knowing the exact dimensions of risk communication and its components in disasters. The aim was to identify the components of disaster risk communication in the health system. This research was conducted by systematic review and searching of the databases of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, Google Scholar and ScienceOpen 2000–2021 to identify the components of disaster risk communication in the health system. Thematic content analysis was used for data analysis. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 chart was used for systematic search, and a modified Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) was used for quality determination. Out of 12 342 articles extracted, 25 studies were included for analysis. The components of disaster risk communication were analysed in 6 categories and 19 subcategories. These categories include communication (communication processes, communication features and infrastructure), information (content production, content characteristics and publishing), risk communication management (risk perception assessment, planning, coordination and logistics), monitoring and control (monitoring and evaluation, accreditation, documentation), education and training (public and organisational) and ethics and values (culture and social beliefs, ethics and trust). According to this research, the establishment of communication infrastructure and advanced equipment such as various structured formats for communication and artificial intelligence; online and offline communication support systems; and timely and accurate notice can help achieve goals such as coordination and organisation in the health system and increase social participation.

Contribution: This study has clarified and explained all the main components and measures of risk communication that can be used for planning scientifically.


Keywords

risk communication; emergency communication; disaster communication; health system; community engagement; disaster management

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