Communicating Health Risks
Foundation for this assignment
The public health field encompasses a number of different sectors and one valuable area is crisis and emergency risk communication. When a problem arises, public health communicators need to take quick and accurate steps in order to divert or control disaster. We have seen this first hand with H1N1 flu and SARS outbreaks. It is important to understand steps that can be taken ahead of time, so when an emergency occurs you can react with effective procedures.
Task for this assignment
For this case assignment, you will be using the CDC Risk Communication resource provided in your required readings section.
Step 1: Go to the website and under Risk Communication, click on “Emergency Preparedness and Response.”
Step 2: Read through the information on this page and then under Specific Hazards, click on “Recent Outbreaks & Incidents.
Step 3: Under “Select a Year”, click on 2012
Step 4: Choose one of the recent outbreaks
In a 2-3 page paper:
1.) Identify the incident/outbreak you chose from 2012 for which risk communication was essential.
2.) Describe the situation that occurred and some statistics to display the severity of the incident.
3.) What types of communication/procedures were used during this incident? Provide examples on the information that was disseminated and how it aided in the situation.
Assignment Expectations, in order to earn full credit
You must clearly show that you have read the module homepage and the required background materials that relate to this assignment. You are welcome to do research in addition to — but not instead of — the required readings.
Please write your paper in your own words. That is the only way I can evaluate your level of understanding.
Even though the papers must be written in your own words, you are required to use scholarly and professional sources to support your statement. Cite sources for any statement of fact or idea that is not common knowledge. You must cite the sources within the body of the paper and include a reference list at the end of the paper.
Quotes are very rarely needed; if necessary, they should comprise much less than 10% of a paper and must be in quotation marks and properly cited.
Draw upon a broad base of scholarly literature to support your statements. Web sites and fact sheets may be a useful starting point; however, you are expected to locate peer-reviewed readings on your topic from the electronic library.
Wikipedia is not an acceptable source of information. Use credible, professional, and scholarly sources such as peer-reviewed journal articles from the Online Library, and government, university, or nonprofit organizations’ Web sites.
Your papers will be evaluated on the following factors:
- References – citations are used within the body of the paper any time you state a fact or idea that is not common knowledge. A reference list is included at the end of the paper.
- Precision – you follow all instructions and you answer each part of the assignment.
- Breadth – you show broad knowledge of the module’s topic.
- Depth – you go into detail to show more critical thought about the specific tasks or questions in the assignment.
- Clarity – the extent to which you elaborate and include discussion or examples as asked.
- Application – the extent to which you apply the information to a real-life situation related to the assignment, if asked.