Transcript Module XXIV - International Atomic Energy Agency

INFORMATION FOR
MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND
PUBLIC
Module XXIV
Syllabus
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Introduction
Public information management
programme
Objectives of information programme
Medical professionals as special category
to be informed
Communication methods
Questions of major public concern
Fundamental principles of communication
General interview guidelines
Communicating with media
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Introduction
“Public” not homogeneous
 People need clear, simple,
straightforward explanations
 Medical community as a special
category of population:
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to be educated themselves
 to educate the general public
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Public information
management programme
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Purpose
To ensure provision of timely, accurate and
up-to-date information public about cause and
status of emergency, protective actions being
taken to safeguard health and actions they
should take to ensure own protection
 To help to minimize anxiety in emergency
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Development of
comprehensive information
programme
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Necessary elements
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Clearly stated programme objectives
Identification of audience according to objectives of
the communication programme
Audience survey to identify need and messages to be
communicated and channels of communication
Management plan with clearly stated goals for each
audience to achieve objectives, which considers a
number of options
Evaluation plan to incorporate lessons learned in
future planning
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Objectives of
information programme
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Before an emergency
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To create a climate whereby organization
concerned is recognized as credible and
trustworthy, and as having protection of
public of primary concern
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Tasks to be performed
before emergency
Review and develop national public
information policy
 Determine and allocate agreed
responsibilities in providing public
information
 Develop and implement detailed plans for
public information
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Information policy
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National public information policy review
and development
Review and document legal infrastructure
 Ensure agreement on public information
policy at all levels
 Make agreement with all involved
organizations
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Allocation of
responsibilities
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Determine and allocate agreed
responsibilities for public information
provision
Assign responsibilities independently of any
emergency response responsibilities
 Encourage co-ordination between groups
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Plans for public
information
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Develop and implement detailed plans for
public information
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Develop infrastructure and functional
capabilities needed to implement lower level
nuclear emergency communications plans
prepare and maintain plans and procedures
 designate staff roles
 install public information briefing centres and
equipment
 develop and provide training
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Objectives of information
programme
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In an emergency
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To inform public about current state of
emergency and provide information on safety
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Identify audience
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Media
Government leaders, business people
interested in nuclear industry
Medical and health professionals
Developers, end-users and operators of
nuclear technologies
Academics/researchers in nuclear area
Academics/teachers in related disciplines
Special and public interest groups
General public
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Medical and health
professionals
Medical professionals - most credible
source of information to public
 Very often don’t have enough information
about radiation
 Information could be provided via
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newsletter
 brochures
 video
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Types of information provided
to medical professionals
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Basic knowledge about radiation
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Specific knowledge about radiation
necessary for response in an emergency
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for all medical professionals
for those involved in response
Specific information about an accident
necessary for response
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for those involved in response
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Developing a
management plan
Development of goals for each audience
 Message development
 Designated spokesperson responsible for
communicating the message
 Communication vehicle appropriate for
message
 Schedule for releasing various messages
 Crisis communication plan
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Communication
methods
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Written
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Oral
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Speeches, briefings
Visual
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Reports, studies, press releases, booklets, text in
calendars
Videos, films
Direct interaction: interviews
Computer: e-mail, Internet
Visits, tours, special events
Training seminars
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Questions of major
public concern
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Control of sources of ionizing radiation
NPPs
Uranium mining and milling
Nuclear fuel fabrication and reprocessing
Storage of spent fuel
Spent fuel disposal
Application of ionizing radiation in medicine,
industry, agriculture and research
Transport of radioactive material
Disposal of radioactive waste
Emergency preparedness
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Major public concern in
emergency preparedness
What to do in emergency situation?
 Enough assistance and expertise to deal
with situation?
 Who receives stable iodine?
 Necessary to evacuate?
 Emergency Plan?
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Major public concern in nuclear
or radiological accidents
What happened?
 Consequences?
 Who is responsible for accident?
 Will I die?
 Water, food, house, money contaminated?
 Officials telling truth?
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Fundamental principles
of communication
Foundation of trust is truth and openness
 Communication ongoing and predictable
 Depth, not breadth
 Communication by trained people
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Fundamental principles of
communication
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Earning trust and building credibility
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Message “interference”
Jargon/technical terms
 Languages
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Interview – direct
interaction
Interviews may help in providing public
with correct information
 Prerecorded interviews (formal or
informal) edited before broadcast
 Background interviews - for journalists to
understand a subject in more depth - may
or may not be used in report to public
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Interview – direct
interaction
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Types of interviews
Live vs taped
 Print
 Broadcast
 General vs investigative
 Ambush vs prearranged
 Office vs on scene
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General interview
guidelines
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Be
yourself
comfortable and confident
honest
brief
human
personal
prepared, positive, and consistent
attentive
energetic
committed and sincere
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Communicating with the
media
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Why is it important?
Provide information to public
 Prevent rumour
 Maintain credibility of response
organizations
 Allow responders to focus on response
 Reduce psychological impact
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Media
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How would you describe the media?
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Media goals
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Media helps you get story out
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Communications with
media
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Identifying/designating authorized
spokespersons
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Information co-ordinated and approved
before release
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Joint information centre / emergency
public information centre
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Summary
Importance of communicating effectively
with pubic
 Objectives of information programme
 Medical community as special group
 Questions of major public concern
 Basic communication principles
 Media interview and guidelines
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