BACKGROUND: During biological events, individuals urgently need accurate information to make informed decisions. However, the dissemination of misinformation and rumors can distort public perception of risk and mislead the community. Under such circumstances, communication plays a crucial role in all phases of disaster risk management for biological events. A comprehensive understanding of the risk communication process is essential to prevent disruptions in risk management during biological events. Given the importance of risk communication in all phases of disaster risk management and the limited understanding of risk communication processes for biological events in the Iranian healthcare system, this qualitative study was aimed to develop a grounded theory of risk communication specifically tailored to biological events in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This exploratory qualitative study was conducted from 2021 to 2023, constructing a conceptual model using the grounded theory approach of Corbin and Strauss (2015). Participants were purposively selected from national-level experts, including the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, as well as regional managers and academic staff with practical or theoretical experience in risk communication for biological events. Data were collected through semistructured in-depth individual interviews. The data were analyzed using a constant comparative method. This process involved open coding, developing categories based on their attributes and characteristics, examining the data within its context, incorporating processes into the analysis, and merging categories. RESULTS: Eighteen participants took part in this study, resulting in a total of 18 interviews. The interviews were conducted over an 8-month period between 2021 and 2022, lasting between 30 and 90 minutes (with an average of 60 minutes). The analysis of the interviews yielded three main themes: structural factors, strategies, and consequences. A conceptual model was developed based on these themes. CONCLUSION: Identifying the components of risk communication and defining its process for biological events will lead to a better understanding of social participation in all phases of disaster risk management. Given the multidimensional nature of risk communication, the involvement of interdisciplinary experts is essential in developing and facilitating the risk communication process for biological events. It is thus recommended that a specialized working group for risk communication for CBRNE events be established at the Ministry of Health level as it can play a key role in developing, revising, and implementing risk communication plans and protocols. In addition, it is recommended that the model developed in this study be tested in real-world conditions.
Mohsenzadeh et al. (Thu,) studied this question.