TY - JOUR
T1 - Level of perception of technical terms regarding the effect of radiation on the human body by residents of Japan
AU - Yoshida, Yoshitoku
AU - Yoshida, Yasuko
AU - Isogai, Emiko
AU - Hayase, Takashi
AU - Nakamura, Kozue
AU - Saito, Mitsuo
AU - Arizono, Koji
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 25460796 from the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 The Author(s).
PY - 2017/10/27
Y1 - 2017/10/27
N2 - Background: This study aimed to examine the level of perception of the technical terms related to the effect of radiation on the human body among residents of the six prefectures of Miyagi, Fukushima, Tokyo, Aichi, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki in Japan. Miyagi and Fukushima were selected as devastated area by Great East Japan Earthquake. Tokyo and Aichi were selected as control. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were selected as the A-bombed area. Methods: A total of 1030 respondents, 172, 173, 171, 173, 171, and 170, respectively, were surveyed. Differences in the recognition level of technical terms related to the effect of radiation on the human body among residents of the six prefectures were assessed. Results: The highest recognition levels were reported by the respondents from Fukushima (17 items). Those from Miyagi scored the second highest recognition levels (10 out of the 17 terms); the second highest recognition levels for the remaining seven terms were marked by the respondents of Tokyo. Respondents in the Tohoku region had a better recognition for the technical terminology relevant to the effect of radiation on the human body. Conclusions: Our findings indicate a need for continued, comprehensive risk communication pertaining to health hazards of radiation exposure in Tohoku region. Concerted efforts by central/local governments and other stakeholders are required to allay the anxiety/stress related to radiation exposure among the residents.
AB - Background: This study aimed to examine the level of perception of the technical terms related to the effect of radiation on the human body among residents of the six prefectures of Miyagi, Fukushima, Tokyo, Aichi, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki in Japan. Miyagi and Fukushima were selected as devastated area by Great East Japan Earthquake. Tokyo and Aichi were selected as control. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were selected as the A-bombed area. Methods: A total of 1030 respondents, 172, 173, 171, 173, 171, and 170, respectively, were surveyed. Differences in the recognition level of technical terms related to the effect of radiation on the human body among residents of the six prefectures were assessed. Results: The highest recognition levels were reported by the respondents from Fukushima (17 items). Those from Miyagi scored the second highest recognition levels (10 out of the 17 terms); the second highest recognition levels for the remaining seven terms were marked by the respondents of Tokyo. Respondents in the Tohoku region had a better recognition for the technical terminology relevant to the effect of radiation on the human body. Conclusions: Our findings indicate a need for continued, comprehensive risk communication pertaining to health hazards of radiation exposure in Tohoku region. Concerted efforts by central/local governments and other stakeholders are required to allay the anxiety/stress related to radiation exposure among the residents.
KW - Great East Japan Earthquake
KW - Perception gap
KW - Radiation
KW - Reliability
KW - Risk communication
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U2 - 10.1186/s12199-017-0679-7
DO - 10.1186/s12199-017-0679-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85032351919
VL - 22
JO - Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
JF - Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
SN - 1342-078X
IS - 1
M1 - 73
ER -
