Risk Communication in Pharmacovigilance: Lookouts, Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

Risk communication is a critical aspect of pharmacovigilance that must be considered by organizations during their Risk Management planning phase. The main challenges that hinder effective risk communication is its dependence on the perception of stakeholders, underpinned by their opinions, experiences and emotional responses to risk.  The way to address these challenges is two-fold. One is dealing with it at a strategic level which involves collaborative problem-solving providing an understanding of strengths and limitations of risk analysis along with tools for internal and external communication to ensure consistent messaging. And the second is dealing at an interpersonal level, which involves utilizing empathetic listening to understand needs of the stakeholders and then sharing expert insights, translating technical information into understandable language to ensure effective delivery of messages. Ultimately, integrating expert communication with computational methods creates a strong foundation and increases success of risk communication.