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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
05:37
An R-Based Landscape Validation of a Competing Risk Model
Published on: September 16, 2022
Improving understanding of adjuvant therapy options by using simpler risk graphics
Brian J Zikmund-Fisher1, Angela Fagerlin, Peter A Ubel
1Health Services Research & Development Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Administration Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. bzikmund@umich.edu
Cancer
|November 18, 2008
Summary
Simplifying risk graphics in online tools like Adjuvant! significantly improves breast cancer patients' understanding of adjuvant therapy benefits. Easier-to-understand formats enhance decision-making for crucial treatment choices.
Area of Science:
- Health Informatics
- Decision Support Systems
- Patient Education
Background:
- Online tools like Adjuvant! aid oncologists and patients in understanding adjuvant therapy risks.
- Current graphical displays (4 stacked bars) may hinder comprehension of risk statistics.
- Simpler graphical formats were investigated to improve understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of simplified graphical formats on patient comprehension of adjuvant therapy risk statistics.
- To compare different visual representations of risk data for clarity and efficiency.
Main Methods:
- 1,619 women aged 40-74 completed an online survey with risk graphics.
- Participants were randomized to view 1 of 4 formats: base (Adjuvant!-like), 2-option, pictograph, or combined changes.
- Outcomes included statistical comprehension, task completion time, and graph perception.
Main Results:
- Simplified formats, especially the 2-option pictograph, significantly improved comprehension.
- Patients viewing the 2-option pictograph were more accurate in reporting incremental risk reduction (77% vs 51%).
- This group also answered faster (28s vs 42s) and rated the graph more favorably (7.67 vs 6.88).
Conclusions:
- Simplifying design graphics in risk calculators can substantially enhance patient understanding of essential statistics.
- Improved comprehension supports more informed decision-making regarding adjuvant therapies.
- Even when used with clinicians, clearer graphics benefit patient understanding.
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