Who proficts from visual aids: Overcoming challenges in people's understanding of risks

摘要: Many people have difficulties grasping numerical concepts that are prerequisites for understanding treatment risk reduction. Visual aids been proposed as a promising method enhancing comprehension. In survey of probabilistic, nationally representative samples in two different countries (United States and Germany), we compared the effectiveness adding types visual (icon arrays bar graphs representing either affected individuals only or entire population at risk) to information an absolute relative reduction format. We also analyzed whether people's numeracy graphical literacy skills efficacy aids. Our results showed large improvements accuracy both when icon were added information. Highest increases achieved depicted risk. Importantly, most useful participants who had low but relatively high skills. Building on previous research showing problems with often do not reside minds, representation problem, our show help modify incorrect expectations about important implications medical practice.