1. J. Koehler, L. Dreijerink, R. van Poll Research into information supply and information demand of different parties concerned Exploring the risk information gap

2. “All the information on food related risks is so confusing…there is so much overstated information…it makes you worry if you don’t understand much of it…” “RIVM? …I don’t know...is it a …research institute?”

3. Approaching the risk information gap RIVM National Institute for PH and Environment Contractors (Ministries, local authorities,..) Risk information (Reports, website, press releases) Researchers Public NGOs Media (other) policy makers Information supply Information demand ? Information gap

4. Contents 1)What kind of risk information does the RIVM provide? 2)What kind of risk information do different stakeholders want? 3)Results 4)Conclusions

5. J. Koehler, L. Dreijerink, R. van Poll Information supply RIVM = National Institute for Public Health and the Environment RIVM’s tasks - research - policy support - national coordination - intervention programmes - provision of information to professionals and the general public

6. Information supply Website Reports Press releases

7. Information supply Screening RIVM risk reports Checklist: a)Aspects related to risk assessment b)Aspects related to the nature of the risk c)Aspects related to dealing with the risk d)Aspects related to the social context e)Aspects related to personal characteristics

8. Information demand Qualitative approach

9. Information demand Questionnaire »Experience with the risk topic »Gathering information in this topic »Risk perception »Familiarity with RIVM and image of the RIVM »Relevance of the RIVM for gathering information on the risk topic »Opinion about the website, reports or press releases »Personal contacts »Custom-made information

10. Information demand Results of the interviews / focus group discussions Risk perception -NGOs, policy makers, researchers and public worried about risks Familiarity with RIVM -Nearly all professionals are familiar with the institute -Civilians don’t know the RIVM very well Image of the institute -Professionals: RIVM is reliable, professional, open, honest, objective, consistent, and credible but not transparent and independent Means of communication -Website: occasionally used by most of professionals -Reports: understandable for researchers, other professionals -Press releases: not made use of -Personal contacts: appreciated

11. Information demand Custom-made information is favoured Active communication is preferred Clear summaries of the risk reports Policy makers: more information on the local or regional level and policy implication Public: concrete information on personal circumstances NGOs: involvement at earlier stages of research Media: freedom to choose own topics Researchers: more insight in how study results /conclusions are derived

12. Is there an ‘information gap’? To a certain extent an information gap exists: RIVM information supply does not always correspond with the information need of the different parties concerned. Extent varies according to the different parties: Researchers, Media Policy makers, NGO’s Public Extent of information gap

13. RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment jutta.koehler@rivm.nl