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Introduction: In Sweden, two donation campaigns have been carried out; one short term (STC) during October 2001, and one long term (LTC) between the years 2003–2005. The goal was not only to inform the public but also to create a positive attitude, make people talk about donation and formally declare their decision. Methods: The effects of the two campaigns were evaluated through three opinion polls. Results: The willingness to donate was widespread (86%) before and after the campaigns. The LTC increased the knowledge of the Donor Card (24–35%, p < 0.001) and the National Donor Registry (19–40%, p < 0.001). The LTC focused on making people register, still though, only a small increase of registrants was found (11–14%, p = 0.043). The proportion expecting the question of organ donation if their relative was to die under circumstances that made organ donation possible increased (73–79%, p = 0.002). No corresponding increase was found regarding the number having informed a relative about their decision (20–23%, ns). Conclusion: The LTC was successful in increasing the expectation for the donation request. It also improved the knowledge of the Card and the Registry and slightly increased the number having registered. However, neither of the campaigns succeeded in making people inform their relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the success of a risk communication programme conducted in two municipalities in Sweden is evaluated. The communication efforts were initiated in order to comply with the Seveso II Directive, passed as a national law in July 1999. Data from two different questionnaires are used. Between the distribution of the two questionnaires, an information campaign took place in the communities. The first questionnaire was aimed at measuring the public's opinion and understanding of the risks related to chemical industries in their communities, as well as the public's knowledge of emergency behaviour in the event of an accident. The second was aimed at measuring the effects or impact of the risk communication programme on the public. A total of 346 respondents participated in the study by answering two questionnaires. An evaluation of the risk communication efforts was focused around three dimensions: comprehension, audience evaluation and communication failures. The results showed differences between the two campaigns that gave significantly different results in the two communities. In the community with the multimedia channel campaign, the respondents showed greater knowledge of the production process at the local industry, they also judged the health threats for that industry to be less after the campaign, and they saved the information material to a greater extent. However, the overall effects of the information campaigns were weak. Future research is needed to explore the relation between people's emergency behaviour and risk communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]