Integrating Risk Assessment and Consumer-Focused Risk Communications

Abstract

Applying the basic tenets of behavioral epidemiology, this thesis integrates food safety risk assessment and health psychology models to produce effective consumer-focused risk communications. Chapter One describes a probabilistic model of the role of domestic food handling behaviors on salmonellosis risk. The degree of undercooking has a great impact on the likelihood of disease resulting from consumption of eggs and egg-containing foods. This type of quantitative analysis provides the scientific knowledge foundation for further risk communications. The second study, a national Web-based survey, was conducted to measure consumer awareness and knowledge of listeria. Awareness was lower among adults 60 years of age and older, an at-risk population for listeriosis, and individuals with relatively less education and lower incomes. Men, more-educated individuals, and individuals living in metropolitan areas, were more likely to engage in risky storage practices. This study identified the need to develop targeted risk communications regarding listeriosis prevention. The third manuscript describes how theoretical behavioral models may be applied to modify consumer food storage and handling behaviors. This paper introduces three types of behavior models – motivation models, behavior enaction models, and stage theories. Application of traditional public health education theories such as these to the field of food safety education offers a means to improve the efficacy of future educational campaigns. This paper characterizes consumer perspectives on the levels of responsibility and control they have over the safety of the US food supply. Respondents rated consumers as having the least responsibility for and control over the US food supply compared to other key food chain members. Education to empower the consumer should be focused at groups who cook infrequently and so do not have much experience with food safety procedures. The fifth manuscript describes a public health intervention (a listeriosis prevention fact sheet) aimed at seniors, developed from multiple focus groups. Subjects discussed their impressions of the fact sheet, whether they made any changes based on the information provided, and barriers to adopting the recommended practices. Adoption of the recommended practices was not widespread because many participants were not concerned about contracting listeriosis.