Qualitative study on public risk perception and response under major public health emergencies

  Background   Public risk perception, emotional response and behavioral rules are key elements in risk management of major public health emergencies.

  Objective   To explore the evolution characteristics of public risk perception and response under major public health emergencies, so as to provide decision support for assessing public risk perception, guiding emotional response and predicting behavioral changes.

  Methods   Descriptive nature of qualitative research was applied in 20 citizens for semi-structured interviews from April to June in 2022, and content analysis was used to analyze the data and refine the themes.

  Results   The public’s risk perceptions with the evolution of major public health emergencies presented the characteristics of “low-strong-low-fluctuation”. Their emotional response showed the characteristics of “acute stress-chronic stress-relief and recovery”. Their behavioral coping presented the change of “risk avoidance and loss control-intergroup cooperation-health maintenance behavior”.

  Conclusion   Public risk perceptions, emotional response and behavioral coping show a certain evolution characteristics with the progress of major public health emergencies, which suggests that government departments at all levels should adopt corresponding emergency management decisions and risk communication strategies according to its characteristics, so as to improve the prevention and control effect of major public health emergencies.