Discipline: Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Subcategory: Social Sciences/Psychology/Economics
Session: 3
Room: Exhibit Hall A
Aalayna Green - Michigan State University
Co-Author(s): Carly Sponarski, University of Maine, Orono, ME
Zoonotic diseases pose a threat to human health and when diseases evolve to infect humans the outcomes can be devastating. As of 2018, three human clinical cases of Brucella pinnipedialis have been reported to be contracted via environmental exposure or consuming undercooked seafood (Spickler, 2018). B. pinnipedialis, although rare in humans, poses a potential future risk seeing that transmission between seals and humans is possible via consumption of the seal?s prey. Whether a zoonotic disease is familiar or unfamiliar, it is critical that people are educated in ways to protect themselves from infection. Thus, establishing a means of communication which is tangible, understandable, and can easily disseminated between members of the general public, is crucial to inhibiting spread. One effective method of science communication is through the use of infographics. Infographics utilize both visual and contextual means of communicating through the use of graphics, data tables, drawings, design etc. This study sought to (1) identify the influence of infographics on individuals? risk perception of emerging infectious diseases, and (2) find which targeted information is best received by the audiences viewing the infographics. We conducted two focus groups with a total of 15 participants, with varying degrees of scientific knowledge. The participants were given a pre- and post- examination to test their knowledge on One Health, seal conservation, and zoonotic diseases. Participants were divided into groups and given their one of three infographics. Each group was tasked to critique their infographic. All participants had an increase in accuracy (overall 20.9%) between answering the pre and post questions on zoonotic diseases and One Health concepts. Based on their feedback, the infographic which focused on One Health related issues was the most effective and captivating. Being able to convey impeding wildlife disease, wildlife conservation, and preventative medicine to the general public in a comprehensible way means that we can minimize the effects of disease spread.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): National Science Foundation; Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner, Dr. Kristina Cammen, and Stephanie Shea (program coordinators for REU ANEW)
Faculty Advisor: Carly Sponarski, carlycs@maine.edu
Role: Study Design -Data Collection - Data Analysis