Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-m8qmq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-20T04:06:47.913Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Public Perception of Extreme Cold Weather-Related Health Risk in a Cold Area of Northeast China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2017

Jie Ban ,
Li Lan ,
Chao Yang ,
Jian Wang ,
Chen Chen ,
Ganlin Huang  and
Tiantian Li
Jie Ban
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Health Risk Assessment, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Li Lan
Affiliation:
Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, China
Chao Yang
Affiliation:
Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, China
Jian Wang
Affiliation:
Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin, China
Chen Chen
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Health Risk Assessment, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
Ganlin Huang
Affiliation:
Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Tiantian Li*
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Health Risk Assessment, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Tiantian Li, Department of Environmental Health Risk Assessment, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No.7 Panjiayuan Nanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China (e-mail: tiantianli@gmail.com).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

A need exists for public health strategies regarding extreme weather disasters, which in recent years have become more frequent. This study aimed to understand the public’s perception of extreme cold and its related health risks, which may provide detailed information for public health preparedness during an extreme cold weather event.

Methods

To evaluate public perceptions of cold-related health risk and to identify vulnerable groups, we collected responses from 891 participants in a face-to-face survey in Harbin, China. Public perception was measured by calculating the score for each perception question.

Results

Locals perceived that extreme cold weather and related health risks were serious, but thought they could not avoid these risks. The significant difference in perceived acceptance level between age groups suggested that the elderly are a “high health risk, low risk perception” group, meaning that they are relatively more vulnerable owing to their high susceptibility and low awareness of the health risks associated with extreme cold weather.

Conclusions

The elderly should be a priority in risk communication and health protective interventions. This study demonstrated that introducing risk perception into the public health field can identify vulnerable groups with greater needs, which may improve the decision-making of public health intervention strategies. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:417–421)

Keywords

communicationextreme coldpublic healthquestionnairesvulnerable populations
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , August 2017 , pp. 417 - 421
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

Jie Ban and Li Lan are considered co-first authors because they contributed equally to this study.

References

REFERENCES

1. Semenza, JC, Ploubidis, GB, George, LA. Climate change and climate variability: personal motivation for adaptation and mitigation. Environ Health. 2011;10(1):46-57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-10-46.Google Scholar
2. Wolf, J, Adger, NW, Lorenzoni, I. Heat waves and cold spells: an analysis of policy response and perceptions of vulnerable populations in the UK. Environ Plann A. 2010;42(11):2721-2734. http://dx.doi.org/10.1068/a42503.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Shah, S, Peacock, J. Deprivation and excess winter mortality. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1999;53(8):499-502. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.53.8.499.Google Scholar
4. Lawlor, DA, Harvey, D, Dews, HG. Investigation of the association between excess winter mortality and socio-economic deprivation. J Public Health Med. 2000;22(2):176-181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/22.2.176.Google Scholar
5. Hajat, S, Kovats, RS, Lachowycz, K. Heat-related and cold-related deaths in England and Wales: who is at risk? Occup Environ Med. 2007;64(2):93-100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/oem.2006.029017.Google Scholar
6. Wilkinson, P, Pattenden, S, Armstrong, B, et al. Vulnerability to winter mortality in elderly people in Britain: population based study. BMJ. 2004;329(7467):647-650. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.38167.589907.55.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7. Hale, JL, Dillard, JP. Fear appeals in health promotion campaigns: too much, too little, or just right? In: Maibach E, Parrott RL, eds. Designing Health Messages: Approaches From Communication Theory and Public Health Practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications; 1995. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781452233451.n4.Google Scholar
8. Bassil, KL, Cole, DC. Effectiveness of public health interventions in reducing morbidity and mortality during heat episodes: a structured review. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2010;7(3):991-1001. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph7030991.Google Scholar
9. Huang, L, Zhou, Y, Han, Y, et al. Effect of the Fukushima nuclear accident on the risk perception of residents near a nuclear power plant in China. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2013;110(49):19742-19747. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1313825110.Google Scholar
10. Slovic, P. Perception of risk. Science. 1987;236(4799):280-285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.3563507.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11. Spence, A, Poortinga, W, Butler, C, et al. Perceptions of climate change and willingness to save energy related to flood experience. Nat Clim Chang. 2011;1(1):46-49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nclimate1059.Google Scholar
12. Whitmarsh, L. Are flood victims more concerned about climate change than other people? The role of direct experience in risk perception and behavioural response. J Risk Res. 2008;11(3):351-374. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13669870701552235.Google Scholar
13. Bronfman, NC, Cifuentes, LA. Risk perception in a developing country: the case of Chile. Risk Anal. 2003;23(6):1271-1285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0272-4332.2003.00400.x.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Ban supplementary material

Ban supplementary material 1

Download Ban supplementary material(File)
File 30.4 KB