Impact of Information Presentation Format on Preference for Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Area of Science:

• Medical Decision Making
• Health Communication
• Orthopedic Surgery Outcomes

Background:

• Patient understanding of total knee replacement (TKR) outcomes is often poor, with benefits underestimated and risks overestimated.
• Effective communication of surgical outcomes is crucial for informed patient consent and decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the impact of different information formats on patient preference for TKR.
• To evaluate how descriptive information, icon arrays, images, or spinners affect TKR preference and knowledge.

Main Methods:

• 648 participants from an online arthritis network were randomized into four groups.
• Outcome information was presented numerically, with an icon array, with images, or with a spinner.
• TKR preferences were measured pre- and post-information using an 11-point scale; knowledge was assessed via outcome frequency recall.

Main Results:

• Icon arrays, images, and spinners led to stronger TKR preferences than numeric-only information (P < 0.05).
• Knowledge scores were highest with the icon array format.
• Knowledge did not mediate the relationship between information format and preference change.

Conclusions:

• Graphic aids, such as icon arrays and spinners, enhance patient preference for TKR.
• These visual tools can serve as effective decision aids for communicating probabilistic surgical outcomes in clinical settings.
• While image-heavy formats may be complex, icon arrays and spinners offer adaptable solutions for point-of-care decision support.