Public Health Risk Communication with E-Government Applications Towards Sustainable Public Health: A Malaysian Perspective

• Published in: Malaysian Journal of Consumer and Family Economics
• Main Author: Chuah S.-C.; Arifin A.M.; Arshad A.A.M.; Kamaruddin J.N.; Goh T.-H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Consumer and Family Economics Association 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85211107607&doi=10.60016%2fmajcafe.v33.14&partnerID=40&md5=f58881e83f731076e3f93976b6e5c759

Public engagement is important in sustaining public health through an effective risk communication process with e-government applications. By integrating seeking health risk information, social media competence, and trust in government information into the protective theory model, this study examines public engagement in adopting e-government applications for health risk communication in order to achieve sustainable public health practices with self-protective discipline. By applying the convenience sampling method, this study has collected 230 sample data and analysed using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modelling Technique. The results indicated that perceived severity and response efficacy have a significant influence on risk information-seeking behaviour. Social media competence and trust in government information were found to significantly determine the intention to adopt e-government applications to interact with the government for risk communication. The findings suggest that it is crucial for the government to establish trust and enhance the publics’ digital competence so as to increase the effectiveness of risk communication through the application of e-government services. © 2024, Malaysian Consumer and Family Economics Association. All rights reserved.