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Risk Communication

Venn Diagram showing overlapping areas of science, policy and capacity

The goal of FDA risk communication is to help people make informed decisions about FDA-regulated products. Doing this means conveying both the risks and benefits of these products. It is an interactive process that targets both the public and regulated industries. We do this by

  • communicating directly with product users and prescribers
  • giving guidance to industries to help them communicate about their products

To achieve these goals we aim to strengthen relevant science, policy, and capacity.


Strategic Plan for Risk Communication and Health Literacy (SPRCHL)

The Department of Health and Human Services, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), aim to empower people to make informed choices for their health. FDA’s mission includes helping people protect their health through informed decisions about using FDA-regulated products. This plan aims to help FDA staff in working toward FDA’s mission by promoting risk communication and health literacy.  Health literacy describes the match between the information we provide and people’s capacity to find, understand, and use that information for their health. The purpose of SPRCHL is to clarify how FDA can accomplish our mission by more effectively communicating the benefits and risks of FDA-regulated products to our target audiences.


Communicating Risks and Benefits: An Evidence-Based User's Guide

Effective risk communication is essential to the well-being of any organization and those people who depend on it. Ineffective communication can cost lives, money, and reputations. Communicating Risks and Benefits: An Evidence-Based User's Guide provides the scientific foundations for effective communication.

Cover of the report Communicating Risks and Benefits:  An Evidence-Based User

 

Risk Communication at FDA

Resources For You

Advisory Committee



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