Decision Making at the cutting edge of Environmental Health: Red Tides

描述（由申请人提供）：赤潮等自然环境危害似乎在全球范围内增加。与其他压倒性的自然和人为环境风险（如全球变化）的例子一样，围绕这些新出现的环境威胁的科学提出的问题比解答的问题更多，给涉及这些危害的决策增加了不确定性。目前，人们对在不确定的环境健康危害情况下如何作出决定知之甚少。因此，我们没有制定适当的教育干预措施以促进良好决策所需的知识基础。拟议的研究将利用联合分析的基于理论的创新应用，解决在不确定的环境健康威胁情况下有关决策的知识差距。具体来说，我们将探讨a)对有害藻华和佛罗里达赤潮的认识和认识，以及b)在赤潮存在时影响两种行为决策的因素。佛罗里达赤潮是一种具有不确定健康风险的全球性和新出现的环境危害的典型例子。当食用受污染的海鲜和/或呼吸受污染的空气时，佛罗里达的赤潮可能会导致健康问题。然而，这些后果的危险是不确定的，赤潮危害的科学仍在发展。因此，这是一个理想的模型，其中探索在不确定的环境卫生情况下影响决策的因素。在本研究中，我们利用预防采用过程模型（PAPM）建立了一个决策的概念模型。这个模型提供了一个框架，塑造了我们的具体目标、研究设计和分析；并告知我们将如何将研究结果用于未来的教育活动。本研究的具体目的是：目的1：利用PAPM阶段理论，我们将评估对佛罗里达赤潮的认识，对其后果的了解，以及对这种危险的个人风险的感知。目标2：确定在就红潮造成的不确定的环境健康危害制定行动意图时对个人最重要的选择情况的属性（例如，身体特征、社会规范）。目标3：评估个人在何处及如何接收及偏好接收有关红潮的资料。这项研究的结果将适用于全球人口面临的各种不确定的环境健康危害。因此，该R21提案将作为未来R01应用的基础，该应用将：a)将R21的结果传播到整个墨西哥湾沿岸受有害藻华（HAB）影响的社区；(b)扩大R21研究方法并将其应用于其他重要环境健康问题的决策(例如……海平面上升，微生物污染)不仅影响我们的研究地点萨拉索塔FL，而且影响全球所有沿海社区。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Natural environmental hazards such as red tides appear to be increasing worldwide. As with other examples of overwhelming natural and man-made environmental risks (e.g. global change), the science surrounding these emerging environmental threats raises more questions than it answers, adding uncertainty to decision making involving these hazards. Currently, very little is known about how people make decisions in situations of uncertain environmental health hazards. Consequently, we do not have the knowledge base needed to devise appropriate educational interventions to facilitate good decision making. The proposed research will address the gaps in knowledge concerning decision making in situations of uncertain environmental health threats, using a theory-based innovative application of conjoint analysis. Specifically, we will explore a) knowledge and awareness of the harmful algal bloom, Florida red tide, and b) factors affecting decisions made about two behaviors in the presence of red tides. Florida red tide is a classic example of a global and emerging environmental hazard with uncertain health risks. Florida red tides may cause health problems when contaminated seafood is eaten and/or when contaminated air is breathed. However, the danger of these consequences is uncertain and the science of red tide hazards is still evolving. Thus, this is an ideal model in which to explore factors affecting decision making in uncertain environmental health situations. For this research, we draw on a conceptual model of decision making using the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM). This model provides a framework that shapes our specific aims, research design and analysis; and informs how we will use study results for future educational activities. The Specific Aims of this research are: Aim 1: Drawing on the PAPM stages theory, we will assess awareness of Florida red tide, knowledge of its consequences, and perceived personal risk from this hazard. Aim 2: Identify the attributes of the choice situations (e.g., physical characteristics, social norms) that are most important to individuals when developing intentions about actions concerning the uncertain environmental health hazards from red tide. Aim 3: Assess where and how individuals receive and prefer to receive information on red tide. The results from this research will be applicable to the wide range of uncertain environmental health hazards facing populations worldwide. Thus, this R21 proposal will serve as the basis of a future R01 application which will: a) disseminate the results of the R21 to harmful algal bloom (HAB) affected coastal communities throughout the Gulf of Mexico; and b) expand and apply the R21 research methodology to decision making about other important environmental health issues (e.g.. sea level rise, microbial pollution) impacting not just our study site of Sarasota FL, but all coastal communities worldwide. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Harmful algal blooms, including Florida red tide, constitute an uncertain environmental health hazard that is growing in magnitude. Decisions that individuals make affect their exposure to potentially negative consequences from these hazards, yet little is known about what affects decision making in these situations. This innovative research will provide information that can be used to facilitate good decision making in the face of these and other environmental health hazards, and thus directly improve public health.