Radiation Hazard Scale: A Communication Tool for Radiation Emergencies

Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis: People need to understand if a situation involving exposure to radiation or contamination with radioactive materials is hazardous for them and their families. The radiation protection community continues to look for ways to effectively address this communication need. To address this need, CDC Radiation Studies Branch (RSB) created the Radiation Hazard Scale. The Radiation Hazard Scale is a communication tool for members of the general public to help them assess their own risk in a radiation emergency and understand how following recommended protective actions can lower their risk of health effects. To evaluate the scale, RSB set out to answer the following questions with public health planners, public information officers (PIOs) and public: 1. Does the scale effectively communicate radiation risk? 2. Is the scale relevant, comprehensible, credible, and visually appealing? 3. Does the scale motivate the public to perform the desired protective actions?

Methods: Testing was conducted in 3 rounds. First, telephone interviews were conducted with members of the public, public health planners, and PIOs to pilot-test the scale. In-person focus groups were also conducted with the public with a revised version of the scale, followed by telephone interviews with PIOs to test supplemental text for each category. Each respondent viewed and gave feedback about the scale. Using the moderator’s guide, researcher’s notes, and transcripts, research staff examined responses to identify emerging themes. The qualitative responses were entered into qualitative analysis software, QSR International’s NVivo 10.0. Researchers identified themes and representative quotes from the qualitative data to determine the findings.

Results: Most participants’ reactions to the Radiation Hazard Scale were overwhelmingly positive.  All participants provided suggestions to clarify and simplify the scale text for each category. The public thought the scale would help them assess their radiation risk during major and minor emergencies. PIOs liked the direct language in the scale text. After the first round of testing, PIOs and health planners suggested adding supplemental text to provide further explanation for each category. PIOs would like to learn about the scale through webinars, conference presentations, podcasts or YouTube videos.

Conclusions: With slight modifications, all audiences thought the scale would be valuable during all phases of a radiation emergency. RSB staff revised the scale based on findings from the audience testing. RSB has posted the scale to the RSB website[https://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/radiationhazardscale.asp]for others to utilize.

Implications for research and/or practice: PIOs and planners would use the scale before an emergency in their preparedness plans and during trainings/exercises. Most PIOs would use the scale for communication with the media and the public during an emergency.  PIOs would also reference the scale during their debriefings after the incident. RSB is currently developing a smartphone application to make the Radiation Hazard Scale readily available for the public, communication specialists and emergency response professionals.