Dunn G, Henrich N, Holmes B, Harris L, Prystajecky N
Program on Water Governance, University of British Columbia, 439-2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada E-mail:
Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, 588-1081 Burrard Street St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
J Water Health. 2014 Sep;12(3):584-95. doi: 10.2166/wh.2014.126.
This work examines the communication interactions of water suppliers and health authorities with the general public regarding microbial source water quality for recreational and drinking water. We compare current approaches to risk communication observable in British Columbia (BC), Canada, with best practices derived from the communications literature, finding significant gaps between theory and practice. By considering public views and government practices together, we identify key disconnects, leading to the conclusion that at present, neither the public's needs nor public health officials' goals are being met. We find: (1) there is a general lack of awareness and poor understanding by the public of microbial threats to water and the associated health implications; (2) the public often does not know where to find water quality information; (3) public information needs are not identified or met; (4) information sharing by authorities is predominantly one-way and reactive (crisis-oriented); and (5) the effectiveness of communications is not evaluated. There is a need for both improved public understanding of water quality-related risks, and new approaches to ensure information related to water quality reaches audiences. Overall, greater attention should be given to planning and goal setting related to microbial water risk communication.
这项工作研究了供水方和卫生当局就用于娱乐和饮用水的微生物源水质量与公众之间的沟通互动。我们将加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省（BC）目前可观察到的风险沟通方法与从传播学文献中得出的最佳实践进行比较，发现理论与实践之间存在显著差距。通过综合考虑公众观点和政府做法，我们找出了关键脱节之处，得出目前公众需求和公共卫生官员目标均未得到满足的结论。我们发现：（1）公众普遍缺乏对水的微生物威胁及其相关健康影响的认识和了解；（2）公众常常不知道在哪里可以找到水质信息；（3）公众的信息需求未得到识别和满足；（4）当局的信息共享主要是单向且被动的（以危机为导向）；（5）沟通效果未得到评估。既需要提高公众对水质相关风险的理解，也需要采用新方法确保与水质相关的信息能够传达给受众。总体而言，应更加关注与微生物水风险沟通相关的规划和目标设定。
