Communicating health information with visual displays

Woloshin, Steven; Yang, Yanran; Fischhoff, Baruch

doi:10.1038/s41591-023-02328-1

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Print brochures and flyers could be used as supplement materials to healthcare providers’ information, and may be effective in capturing attention [ 2 , 22 , 57 ]. Additionally, well-designed visual materials have been found to enhance communication, attention, and adherence to health instructions [ 29 ]. In the current study, the reframed flyer received higher scores in terms of attractiveness, although both flyers were generally lacking in visual appeal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…preventive health behaviors [26,27]. Furthermore, well-designed communication visuals of health messages can increase attention and adherence to the proposed health instructions [28,29].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, previous research has shown that positive messaging about being ‘old’ reduces implicit negative attitudes, and older adults with more positive attitudes toward aging tend to practice more preventive health behaviors [ 26 , 27 ]. Furthermore, well-designed communication visuals of health messages can increase attention and adherence to the proposed health instructions [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Reframing Communication about Fall Prevention Programs to Increase Older Adults’ Intentions to Participate

van Scherpenseel,

van Veenendaal,

te Velde

et al. 2024

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Falls and fall-related injuries in community-dwelling older adults are a growing global health concern. Despite effective exercise-based fall prevention programs (FPPs), low enrollment rates persist due to negative connotations associated with falls and aging. This study aimed to investigate whether positive framing in communication leads to a higher intention to participate in an FPP among community-dwelling older adults. Methods: We conducted a two-sequence randomized crossover study. We designed two flyers, a standard flyer containing standard terminology regarding FPPs for older adults, and a reframed flyer highlighting fitness and activity by reframing ‘fall prevention’ as an ‘exercise program’ and ‘old’ as ‘over 65 years’. With a Mann–Whitney U test, we investigated group differences regarding the intention to participate between the flyers. A sensitivity analysis and subgroup analyses were performed. We conducted qualitative thematic analysis on open-ended answers to gain a deeper understanding of participants’ intention to participate. Results: In total, we included 133 participants. Findings indicated a significantly higher intention to participate in the reframed flyer (median = 4; interquartile range = 1–6) compared to the standard flyer (median = 2; interquartile range = 1–4) (p = 0.038). Participants favored more general terms such as ‘over 65 years’ over ‘older adults’. Older adults who were female, not at high fall risk, perceived themselves as not at fall risk, and maintained a positive attitude to aging showed greater receptivity to positively-framed communications in the reframed flyer. Additionally, already being engaged in physical activities and a lack of practical information about the FPP appeared to discourage participation intentions. Discussion: The results in favor of the reframed flyer provide practical insights for designing and implementing effective (mass-)media campaigns on both (inter)national and local levels, as well as for interacting with this population on an individual basis. Aging-related terminology in promotional materials hinders engagement, underscoring the need for more positive messaging and leaving out terms such as ‘older’. Tailored positively framed messages and involving diverse older adults in message development are essential for promoting participation in FPPs across various population subgroups to promote participation in FPPs among community-dwelling older adults.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…preventive health behaviors [26,27]. Furthermore, well-designed communication visuals of health messages can increase attention and adherence to the proposed health instructions [28,29].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Reframing Communication about Fall Prevention Programs to Increase Older Adults’ Intentions to Participate

van Scherpenseel,

van Veenendaal,

te Velde

et al. 2024

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Ideally such communications are evidence-based -but even the best communications can fail if messaging is executed poorly, as has been seen during the COVID epidemic. 1Decision scientists have articulated basic principles for effective health communication, for example using simple and familiar wording, clear visual design, presenting structured comparisons of alternatives, and careful testing in the target audiences [2][3][4][5].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Communicating overall and statistical uncertainty: A randomized trial of ways to report the results of a study on wearing glasses to reduce COVID risk (Preprint)

woloshin,

Holst,

Oxman

et al. 2024

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUND Communicating uncertainties to the public about the results of health research is challenging. OBJECTIVE To test alternative ways to express overall and statistical uncertainty, using a study about glasses to reduce COVID risk as an example. METHODS Design Two online, parallel, individually randomized trials (both 3×2 factorial designs), randomized participants to different ways of presenting overall uncertainty ("GRADE language”, "plain language", or “no explicit language”) and statistical uncertainty (margin of error or none). Participants Non-glasses wearing adults, recruited from web-based research panels. Main outcome Understanding overall and statistical certainty of evidence. Secondary outcomes Perceived benefit, intended glasses-wearing behavior, assessment of provided information. Analysis Trials analyzed separately and combined in meta-analysis. RESULTS In the U.S. and Norwegian trials, 730 and 497 individuals were randomized; data for 543 and 452 analyzed (i.e., after exclusions, mostly failing attention checks): overall mean age 41 years (SD=15.4), 49% female, 48% with at least a college degree. Without margin of error, plain vs. no explicit language increased correct understanding of how sure one can be about the effect of wearing glasses: [US] 20.9% to 37.4% and [Norway] 42.5% to 52.6% (combined odds of correct understanding, 1.82, (95% CI 1.16 to 2.88)). Effect of GRADE vs. no explicit language was less certain: OR 1.29 (95% CI 0.80 to 2.06). Adding margin of error reduced understanding of plain (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.99) and GRADE language (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.1.60), with a shift from perceiving the evidence as “mixed but more unsure than sure” (correct) to “very unsure”. Adding margin of error increased the proportion correctly summarizing the glasses effect (i.e., "wearing glasses may reduce the chance of getting Covid a little, but might increase it a little") from 1%-3% correct to 21%-31% for the 3 kinds of language (overall OR 10.84, 95% CI 3.74 to 31.44). Plain vs. no explicit language increased the proportion correctly agreeing evidence was insufficient to be sure about the effect of glasses in the U.S. trial: 67.4% to 88.9%, risk difference 21.4%, 95% CI 9.8% to 33.1% but not in the Norwegian trial: 81.2% to 81.6 %, risk difference 0.3%, 95% CI -11.9% to 12.5%. The effect of GRADE vs. no explicit language was less certain (67.4% to 79.7% [US], and 81.2% to 79.5% [Norway]). CONCLUSIONS Plain but not GRADE language was better than no explicit language in helping people understand overall certainty of evidence, though most participants did not correctly understand how sure they could be. Reporting margin of error reduced understanding of overall uncertainty by making people feel the evidence was even less certain. Reporting margin of error improved interpretation of statistical uncertainty around the effect of glasses, but only for a minority of participants. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT05642754

show abstract

“…There is a large body of literature [ 19 , 20 ] supporting visual communication as an effective tool in scientific/medical knowledge transfer. The arts are known to be powerful, accessible forms of communication, with potential to transfer knowledge by stimulating interest and developing connections.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (and autoimmune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia): an illustrious review

Warkentin

2023

Research and Practice in Thrombosis and Haemostasis

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Communicating health information with visual displays

Cited by 7 publications

References 39 publications

Reframing Communication about Fall Prevention Programs to Increase Older Adults’ Intentions to Participate

Reframing Communication about Fall Prevention Programs to Increase Older Adults’ Intentions to Participate

Communicating overall and statistical uncertainty: A randomized trial of ways to report the results of a study on wearing glasses to reduce COVID risk (Preprint)

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (and autoimmune heparin-induced thrombocytopenia): an illustrious review

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About