Communicating health risk.

Health risk communication is a two way interactive process that involves the exchange of information among interested parties about the nature, magnitude, significance, or control of a risk. Although it has only recently become a topic for scientific research, much has been learned in relation to the strategies and the techniques that contribute to effective health risk communication. In parallel, there has probably never been a time of greater need for effective training in health risk communication. The media and the general public are now very hazard conscious, subsequent to apparently regular events in the areas of public health, safety and environmental issues. Public concern regarding such issues is sometimes much less than experts feel to be appropriate, whilst at other times concern has outstripped the concern of the experts involved. Health professionals trained in the techniques of health risk communication are a vital resource in ensuring that the workforce or the population is properly informed so as to exercise appropriate decisions and actions in relation to hazard and risk.