S Miles

Investigating specific concerns about different food hazards

The increase in public concern regarding food hazards and decline in public trust in food risk regulators suggests that there is a need to identify the actual concerns held by the public regarding specific food hazards in order to develop effective risk communication. In this paper we report the findings of semi-structured interviews, using the laddering technique, that aimed to identify the concerns held by the public with regard to five specific food hazards (BSE, genetic modification of food, high fat diets, pesticide residues in food and Salmonella food poisoning). It was found that most of the identified characteristics and concerns were unique to specific food hazards, though some were shared. The findings were supported in a validation study using a more representative sample of the public. The discussion argues that risk messages addressing these specific concerns will be more relevant to the public than general messages, which may lead to more effective risk communication.

Public worry about specific food safety issues

Consumers may encounter a number of potential food hazards through their food choice decisions and consumption behaviour. It is psychologically determined risk perceptions that drive acceptance of such potential food hazards, and define peoples risk‐taking or self‐protective behaviours. As such, it is necessary to understand exactly what consumers are worried about. Food issues of concern to consumers were identified in a previous exploratory focus group study. A list of 18 food safety issues was developed for the purpose of the study reported here, with the aim of comparing worry about the different issues and investigating any demographic differences. Factor analysis indicated that attitudes to the 18 food safety issues reflected two underlying constructs, the first relating to technological food issues and the second to lifestyle food issues. In general, people were more worried about technological food hazards compared to lifestyle hazards. Demographic differences were observed for gender, age and social class, but not for geographical region, or having children; furthermore, experience of food allergy or intolerance increased worry about technological issues.

Optimistic bias and food

Food consumption patterns are influenced by a number of factors, including social and cultural factors. It is difficult to effect dietary change, and one possible barrier to dietary change is optimistic bias. Research indicates that individuals tend to believe that they are less likely to experience negative events, and more likely to experience positive events than their peers; this phenomenon is known as optimistic bias. It has been argued that optimistic bias may have a negative impact both on self-protective behaviour and on efforts to promote risk-reducing behaviours. The present article reviews the literature investigating optimistic bias specifically in the food domain. The review indicated that many food and nutrition issues are associated with optimistic bias. This has important implications for health-promotion activities in the food domain. The paper also describes key aspects of the methodology used to investigate optimistic bias and details the conditions under which optimistic bias has been demonstrated. The importance of identifying the causes of optimistic bias is discussed, and empirical attempts designed to reduce optimistic bias by countering the causes are reviewed. Finally, directions for future research are suggested.

Public perceptions about microbiological hazards in food

A marked increase in the incidence of microbial food poisoning parallels increasing scientific and public concern about microbiological hazards. This literature review highlights the important pathogens involved in the increase and issues salient to developing effective risk‐benefit communication with the public about microbial food poisoning. Research into public perceptions of microbiological food hazards is reviewed, together with public attitudes towards one of the technologies that could combat food poisoning: food irradiation. Suggestions for reducing the incidence of microbial food poisoning through effective communication strategies are provided.

Public preferences for informed choice under conditions of risk uncertainty

It has been assumed that the general public is unable to conceptualize information about risk uncertainties, and so communication about food risk has tended to avoid this type of information. However, recent societal and political pressure to increase transparency in risk management practices will result in the uncertainties inherent in risk analysis becoming subject to public scrutiny. Best practice regarding risk communication must address how to communicate risk uncertainty. A questionnaire was developed that aimed to assess how the general public characterized uncertainty associated with food risks. The results indicated that people wanted to be provided with information about food risk uncertainty as soon as the uncertainty was identified. People were more accepting of uncertainty associated with the scientific process of risk management than they were of uncertainty due to lack of action or lack of interest on the part of the government. The findings indicate that the focus of risk communication should be on “what is being done to reduce the uncertainty.” Recommendations are made regarding best practice for communicating risk uncertainty.

The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM): A review of its adoption and use

Background: The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was published in 1997 as a tool to evaluate educational environments of medical schools and other health training settings and a recent review concluded that it was the most suitable such instrument. Aims: This study aimed to review the settings and purposes to which the DREEM has been applied and the approaches used to analyse and report it, with a view to guiding future users towards appropriate methodology. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted using the Web of Knowledge databases of all articles reporting DREEM data between 1997 and 4 January 2011. Results: The review found 40 publications, using data from 20 countries. DREEM is used in evaluation for diagnostic purposes, comparison between different groups and comparison with ideal/expected scores. A variety of non-parametric and parametric statistical methods have been applied, but their use is inconsistent. Conclusions: DREEM has been used internationally for different purposes and is regarded as a useful tool by users. However, reporting and analysis differs between publications. This lack of uniformity makes comparison between institutions difficult. Most users of DREEM are not statisticians and there is a need for informed guidelines on its reporting and statistical analysis.

Temporal stability of the psychological determinants of trust: Implications for communication about food risks

There has been much debate about the role of trust in information sources in risk communication. Recent food scares have highlighted the need for both the development of effective risk communication strategies and investigation into whether trust differs between different information sources. In the reported study, 220 participants rated their trust in information about food risks associated with five different food hazards provided by 10 information sources that may provide food risk information to the public. Trust associated with the different information sources was similar, independent of the type of hazard about which the sources were providing information. Building on previous research it was found that the psychological components of trust and distrust were robust over time. The results confirmed the results of previous research, in that medical sources were more trusted than government sources. However, industry sources were least trusted to convey information about food risk to the public, probably as a result of the food scares of the mid to late 1990s.

Public attitudes towards genetically modified food

Purpose – This study aimed to investigate the impact of information about traceability and new detection methods for identifying genetically‐modified organisms in food, on consumer attitudes towards genetically‐modified food and consumer trust in regulators in Italy, Norway and England. It further aimed to investigate public preferences for labelling of genetically‐modified foods in these three countries.Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire was designed to investigate public attitudes toward genetically‐modified food and trust in different information sources. Participants were recruited in Italy, Norway and England for this study. A between subjects design was used, where each participant was randomly allocated to either the experimental “information condition”, or the control “no information condition”.Findings – Receiving information about new detection methods and traceability did not directly influence consumer attitudes towards genetically‐modified foods or trust in regulators. However, res...

A framework for measuring costs to society of IgE‐mediated food allergy

Both immunoglobulin E (IgE)‐mediated food allergy and food intolerance can lead to many changes in personal behaviour and health care resource use which have important economic consequences. These costs will impact directly, indirectly and intangibly on both individuals and society in general. It is important to measure the cost of illness (COI) of food allergy as a first step in developing and evaluating measures to reduce and control the burden of illness. This paper outlines a framework for assessing COI of food allergy from different viewpoints. It offers a structure for identifying the different cost impacts on allergic and nonallergic consumers, food producers and society as a whole, and for scoping, measurement and valuation of relevant costs. Within this structure, the existing literature is reviewed. This review illustrates the lack of information and clear methodology for assessing costs of food allergy. The paper concludes that there is a need for a more structured research programme to generate data essential for future evaluations of procedures and technologies for the diagnosis, treatment and management of food allergy.

Comparing staff and student perceptions of the student experience at a new medical school

Aim: The aim was to compare staff and student perceptions of student experience with the UEA MB/BS educational environment. Methods: All MB/BS students were asked to complete a standard course evaluation at the end of the 2005/06 academic year, which included the Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM). MB/BS teaching staff were asked to complete a revised version of the DREEM. Results: Data from 403 students and 73 teaching staff were compared. The overall DREEM was 144/200 for staff and 141/200 for students. Initial analysis suggested that staff believed that students’ were experiencing more positive learning and teaching environments than students actually were, and they viewed the students’ social experience as more negative than it actually was. However, staff were unable to comment on number of aspects of the educational environment and scored these as ‘unsure’. This distorted the mean values for the subscales. When this was adjudged for, the differences disappeared. Conclusions: Staff did not believe that students were experiencing a perfect educational environment; in most cases their views were closely aligned. But staff s unfamiliarity with aspects of the educational environment suggests a continuing need to provide feedback to staff about students’ actual experiences, to enable provision of a better environment for students.