Improved risk communication during pandemics

The PAN-FIGHT project studies how to fight pandemics with enhanced risk communication. Messages, compliance and vulnerability during the COVID-19 outbreak are central themes.

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It remains important to analyse the social dimensions of how risks around COVID-19 are governed in cases of uncertainty, how preparedness discourses are enacted, and how risk is communicated.

Professor Mathilde Bourrier
How can the authorities best communicate with the population during a pandemic? That's the main question for this team of researchers.

Throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, we have observed considerable variations in how national governments have communicated with their citizens. While home country has thereby made a significant difference to people’s pandemic vulnerability, we know from previous research that other social factors can prove equally important.

The purpose of PAN-FIGHT is to identify any correlations between risk communication and individual vulnerability during the COVID-19 outbreak. We intend to map the authorities’ risk communication practices in Norway, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Further, we will investigate how different population groups in these countries have translated risk communication messages into adjustments of their daily routines.

In addition to nationality, we will pay particular attention to the significance of gender, as well as factors such as age, income, cultural background, household composition and home location. Based on our findings, we will develop new risk communication strategies that are socially, culturally and geographically sensitive.

Throughout the project, we will consult with national, local and professional authorities in the five above-mentioned countries. They will provide information on their COVID-19 communication practices and express their needs for new knowledge. As key stakeholders, they will also assist our study by providing feedback on the practical applicability of project outputs.

As future pandemic pathogens may be much more sinister, this project aims to improve the ability of authorities to reach different population groups and thereby strengthen health-related emergency preparedness at local, national as well as international levels.

Associate Professor
51831185
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Safety, Economics and Planning
About the project
PAN-FIGHT

Supported by the Norwegian Research Council's extraordinary programme for corona research

Contact

Project is lead by Associate Professor Kristin S. Scharffscher

Work package 1 leaderWork package 2 leaderWork package 3 leaderWork package 4 leader
Mathilde Bourrier
Work package 1 leader
Université de Genève
Professor
51831806
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Safety, Economics and Planning
Susanna Öhman
Work package leader
Mid Sweden University
Professor
51834288
Faculty of Health Sciences
Department of Quality and Health Technology
WP1 Post-docWP2 Post-docWP3 Post-docWP4 Post-doc
Farnaz Mahdavian
Post-doctoral Research Fellow
DIALOGIK
Postdoktor
51831323
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Safety, Economics and Planning
Oppdragstaker - sensor
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Safety, Economics and Planning
Associate Professor
51832448
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Safety, Economics and Planning

Researchers and Advisors

Evangelia Petridou
WP1 Researcher
Mid Sweden University
Jörgen Sparf
WP1 Researcher
Mid Sweden University
Associate Professor
51831521
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department of Social Studies
Darrick Evensen
WP2 Researcher
University of Edinburgh
George Warren
WP2 Researcher
King's College London
Associate Professor
51831331
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Safety, Economics and Planning
Professor
51831858
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Safety, Economics and Planning
Ortwin Renn
Chair of Advisory Committee
IASS Potsdam
Geir Sverre Braut
Member of Advisory Committee
Stavanger University Hospital (SUS)
Ann Bostrom
Member of Advisory Committee
University of Washington
Ragnar Lofstedt
Member of Advisory Committee
King’s College London
Anna Olofsson
Member of Advisory Committee
Mid Sweden University
Adjunct Associate Professor
Faculty of Science and Technology
Department of Safety, Economics and Planning
Emma Comrie
Former Post-doctoral research Fellow (WP1)
Alexandrine Dupras
Affiliated researcher (WP1)
University of Geneva
Kamyar Kompani
Affiliated researcher (WP1)
University of Geneva
Minna Lundgren
Affiliated researcher (WP2)
Mid-Sweden University
Hilda Broqvist
Affiliated researcher (WP3)
Mid-Sweden University
Michael Deml
WP1 Researcher
UNIGE

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