Communicating cancer treatment with pictogram-based timeline visualizations

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Communication
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Effective communication of cancer treatment paths is crucial for patient understanding and adherence.
• Traditional methods may not always convey complex treatment information clearly.
• Visual aids offer a promising avenue to enhance patient comprehension.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the legibility, comprehension, and clinical usability of visual timelines for cancer treatment communication.
• To assess how visual aids impact patients' and participants' understanding of their treatment plans.
• To compare the effectiveness of visual timelines against audio-only information.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 2 online surveys (306 and 160 participants) and 1 in-person clinical evaluation (30 patients, 24 physicians).
• Assessed understanding of treatment paths with audio-only vs. visual aids.
• Evaluated comprehension of key treatment terms and patient recall of treatment paths.

Main Results:

• Visual timelines, particularly pictograms, significantly improved communication of treatment terms (over 85% transparency).
• Visual timelines enhanced correct response rates, increased confidence, and received higher information quality ratings than audio-only methods.
• Patients demonstrated good comprehension (0.82) and recall (0.71) of treatment paths, with both patients and physicians finding visual aids helpful.

Conclusions:

• Visual timelines are effective tools for enhancing patient comprehension and confidence in cancer treatment communication.
• Integrating visual aids into patient consultations is supported by both patients and physicians.
• Accessible visual aids hold potential benefits for diverse patient populations in oncology.