Researchers have found that the way information about cancer risk is presented can significantly impact people’s decisions about undergoing preventive surgeries. The study, conducted in South Korea, compared how numerical and graphical displays of ovarian and breast cancer risks influenced women’s willingness to consider risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) and mastectomy (RRM). The findings suggest that visual representations of high cancer risks may prompt more people to choose these preventive measures compared to numerical data alone. This highlights the importance of effective communication strategies in empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health. Cancer and genetic testing are complex topics, and this research provides insights into how to present complex medical information in an accessible way.
The Power of Visualization in Medical Decision-Making
When it comes to making important decisions about our health, the way information is presented can significantly influence our choices. A recent study explored how the format of communicating cancer risk information – numerical versus graphical – affects women’s willingness to undergo preventive surgeries.
The study, conducted by researchers in South Korea, focused on women who tested positive for BRCA gene mutations. These mutations drastically increase the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer (up to 72%) and ovarian cancer (up to 44%). Given these high-risk profiles, the researchers wanted to understand how different methods of conveying this risk information might impact the participants’ decisions about undergoing risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) and risk-reducing mastectomy (RRM).
Numerical vs. Graphical Representations
The study involved 471 women aged 20-74 who were recruited from the general population in South Korea. The participants were presented with hypothetical scenarios where they were informed that they tested positive for a BRCA gene mutation.
First, the researchers provided the participants with the numerical lifetime risks of ovarian and breast cancer. Then, they displayed the same risks using a graphical representation – a 10×10 icon array, where each icon represented a 1% risk.
The Impact of Visualization
The results were intriguing. When the breast cancer risk was presented numerically as 72%, 30.4% of the participants opted for RRM. However, when the same risk was shown graphically, the percentage who chose RRM increased to 38.6% – a significant difference.
On the other hand, the intention to undergo RRSO did not change significantly between the numerical (41.0%) and graphical (39.9%) presentations of the ovarian cancer risk. The researchers suggest that this may be because the 44% ovarian cancer risk shown in the graphical display was lower than the average risk threshold (57.1%) at which participants considered RRSO.
Informing Genetic Counseling Strategies
These findings highlight the importance of effective communication strategies in the context of genetic counseling and medical decision-making. By presenting complex risk information in a visual and intuitive format, healthcare providers may be able to better empower individuals to make informed choices about their health.
The researchers note that the impact of graphical displays may vary depending on the absolute level of risk being communicated. When the risk is perceived as high enough, the visual representation may prompt more people to consider preventive measures. However, when the risk is below a certain threshold, the numerical and graphical formats may have similar effects.
Empowering Individuals through Effective Communication
This study underscores the need for healthcare professionals to carefully consider the most effective ways to present medical information, particularly when it comes to complex genetic and cancer-related risks. By leveraging visual aids and tailoring communication strategies to individual needs, they can help patients better understand their risk profiles and make decisions that align with their values and priorities.
Ultimately, the goal should be to empower individuals to take an active role in managing their health, rather than simply increasing the uptake of preventive surgeries. By facilitating informed decision-making, healthcare providers can support patients in making choices that are right for them, ultimately leading to better health outcomes and quality of life.
Author credit: This article is based on research by Yoon-Jung Choi, Younju Park, Boyoung Park, Heejung Chae, So-Youn Jung, Kum Hei Ryu, Myong Cheol Lim, Soo Jin Park, Yoon Jung Chang, Sun-Young Kong.
For More Related Articles Click Here
