Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2025

Implementation of a Real-Time Psychosis Risk Detection and Alerting System Based on Electronic Health Records using CogStack
Published on: May 15, 2020
Development and Piloting of a Web-Based Tool to Teach Relative and Absolute Risk Reductions
Sandro Zacher1, Birte Berger-Höger1,2, Julia Lühnen1
1Institute of Health and Nursing Science, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle (Saale), Germany.
A new web-based tool helps people understand the difference between relative and absolute risk reduction, improving interpretation of treatment effects for both the public and healthcare professionals.
Area of Science:
- Health literacy
- Medical decision-making
- Risk communication
Background:
- Misinterpretation of relative risk reduction is common among laypeople and healthcare professionals.
- Accurate understanding of treatment effects is crucial for informed decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and pilot a web-based educational tool.
- To teach the distinction between relative risk reduction and absolute risk reduction.
Main Methods:
- Development of a web-based tool based on adult learning and design theories.
- Qualitative feasibility study with think-aloud and semi-structured interviews.
- Analysis of acceptance, applicability, and comprehensibility in 22 participants (8 laypeople, 14 healthcare professionals).
Main Results:
- The tool was found to be feasible, relevant, and improved critical appraisal of therapy effects.
- Participants showed better awareness and recognition of relative effects' influence.
- Some comprehension issues persisted, particularly with calculations and low mathematical skills.
Conclusions:
- The web-based tool effectively enhances the interpretation of risk reductions across diverse populations.
- It serves as a valuable supplement to existing educational programs for improving health literacy.
Related Concept Videos
Relative Risk
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Hazard Ratio
For example, in a clinical trial...
Hazard Rate
Study Designs in Epidemiology
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and...
Regression Toward the Mean

