Public risk perception in public health policies

Public risk perception is a critical factor in determining how policymakers and other decision-makers respond to potential risks. If the public perceives a particular activity or technology as being high-risk, policymakers may be more likely to regulate or ban it, even if expert assessments suggest that the risks are relatively low. This can have important economic and social implications, as it may limit innovation and restrict people's choices. Public risk perception can influence the adoption of new technologies and public health interventions. For example, if people perceive a new vaccine or medical treatment as being risky or unsafe, they may be less likely to use it, even if scientific evidence suggests that it is effective and safe. This can undermine efforts to improve public health and prevent the spread of diseases.

In order to address these issues, it is essential to understand how the public perceives different types of risks. By identifying the factors that shape public risk perceptions and devising methods to evaluate public risk perception, policymakers, and other stakeholders can develop more effective risk communication strategies and risk management plans. This may involve engaging with the public to address their concerns, providing clear and transparent information about risks and benefits, and building trust and confidence in new technologies and interventions. Ultimately, by taking into account the perspectives and concerns of the public, decision-makers can make more informed and responsible choices about managing risks and promoting public welfare.

Considering these points, the purpose of this Research Topic is to investigate the complexities of public risk perception and its impacts on policy, decision-making, innovation, and public health. This collection also aims to address how public risk perception affects technology adoption and public health interventions, including cases where reluctance hinders beneficial innovations despite the evidence. Moreover, this Research Topic aims to uncover the drivers of public risk perception through empirical investigations, theoretical analyses, and methodological advancements. Enhancing our understanding of these drivers seeks to improve risk communication and management strategies.

Specifically, submissions should examine how public risk perception shapes policymaker responses and analyze scenarios where public perceptions of risk differ from expert assessments, potentially influencing regulatory measures to explore the multifaceted relationship between public risk perception and various domains. Submissions should provide new insights, empirical evidence, and innovative methodologies that contribute to a general understanding of public risk perception's interplay with policy, innovation, and public health. Potential manuscripts could include a review/perspective and research articles focusing on, but are not limited to, the following subtopics:
• Public risk perception in food safety
• Public risk perception of novel vaccines
• Public Risk Perception in Healthcare
• Risk Perception and Health Behavior
• Public Perception of Epidemics and Pandemics
• Measurement approaches
• Risk communication guidelines
• Preparedness planning for communication during a crisis
• Cross-Cultural Risk Perception Analysis
• Temporal Dimensions of Risk Perception
• Risk Perception and Health Behavior
• Trust and Expertise in Risk Perception
• Regulation and Risk Perception
• Risk Perception and Health Policy Compliance