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

环境健康前沿决策：赤潮

• 批准号: 8046839
• 负责人: Margaret M Byrne
• 金额: $ 18.14万
• 依托单位: MOTE MARINE LABORATORY
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-24 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8046839
• 关键词: Decision; Making; cutting; edge; Environmental

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.

描述（由申请人提供）：赤潮等自然环境危害似乎在世界范围内不断增加。与其他压倒性的自然和人为环境风险（例如全球变化）的例子一样，围绕这些新兴环境威胁的科学提出的问题多于其答案，增加了涉及这些危害的决策的不确定性。目前，人们对于在环境健康危害不确定的情况下如何做出决策知之甚少。因此，我们没有设计适当的教育干预措施以促进良好决策所需的知识基础。 拟议的研究将利用基于理论的联合分析的创新应用来解决在不确定的环境健康威胁的情况下决策的知识差距。具体来说，我们将探讨 a) 对有害藻华、佛罗里达赤潮的了解和认识，以及 b) 影响赤潮存在时两种行为决策的因素。佛罗里达赤潮是具有不确定健康风险的全球性新兴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，佛罗里达赤潮可能会导致健康问题。然而，这些后果的危险性是不确定的，赤潮危害的科学仍在不断发展。因此，这是探索在不确定的环境健康情况下影响决策的因素的理想模型。在本研究中，我们利用预防措施采用过程模型 (PAPM) 建立了决策概念模型。该模型提供了一个框架来塑造我们的具体目标、研究设计和分析；并告知我们如何将研究结果用于未来的教育活动。 这项研究的具体目标是： 目标 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害的个人风险的感知。目标 2：确定在针对赤潮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境属性（例如，身体特征、社会规范）。目标 3：评估个人在何处以及如何接收以及更愿意接收赤潮信息。 这项研究的结果将适用于全世界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受有害藻华 (HAB) 影响的沿海社区； b) 将 R21 研究方法扩展到其他重要环境健康问题（例如海平面上升、微生物污染）的决策中，这些问题不仅影响我们佛罗里达州萨拉索塔的研究地点，而且影响全世界所有沿海社区。 公众健康相关性：有害的藻华，包括佛罗里达赤潮，构成了一种不确定的环境健康危害，而且危害程度正在不断增加。个人做出的决定会影响他们面临这些危险的潜在负面后果，但人们对在这些情况下影响决策的因素知之甚少。这项创新研究将提供可用于促进在面对这些和其他环境健康危害时做出良好决策的信息，从而直接改善公众健康。