Satisfaction with Chemical Hazard and Exposure Information When Health Risk is Uncertain: Role of Risk Judgments and Mental Models.

Abstract

Communications to laypeople about chemical hazards and/or exposure occur frequently. However, satisfaction with such communications has not been widely studied, and there are indications these communications may be dissatisfying to receivers due to a lack of health risk information. The goal of this research was to determine whether receivers who felt able to make judgments about health risks were more satisfied with hazard and exposure information they had received than those who found this judgment difficult. To explore this question, I collaborated with a larger project collecting data in a population that has received hazard and exposure information about dioxins through participation in an exposure study and/or residing in a community with known dioxin contamination. Dioxins are persistent organic pollutants shown to cause chronic health effects in animals, but human health risks are uncertain, making them a good case study for examining satisfaction with hazard and exposure communications. Primary data sources included expert interviews, lay interviews, and a lay questionnaire, all conducted using a technique designed to explore receivers’ mental models of dioxins. The lay interviews and questionnaire also assessed judgments of health risk and satisfaction with information. Results indicate the ability to make risk judgments plays an important role in satisfaction with hazard and exposure information. More specifically, those who found it easier to make judgments of their health risk were more satisfied with the communications they had received. The ability to make risk judgments also mediated or partially mediated relationships between satisfaction and confidence in mental models of dioxins, familiarity with dioxins, and mistrust of government and industry. Judgment of greater risk and greater concern also predicted lower satisfaction. These findings suggest that receivers of hazard and exposure information make risk judgments, even when risk information is unavailable or uncertain. This implies that interventions that make it easier for residents to make judgments about health risk could increase their satisfaction with information, even if health risk remains scientifically uncertain. More generally, this research illustrates that the process of transforming hazard and exposure information into risk information among laypeople is an important part of their satisfaction with chemical-related communications.