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The Effect of Graphical and Numerical Presentation of Hypothetical Prenatal Diagnosis Results on Risk Perception

Institute for Environmental Decisions, Consumer Behavior, Zürich, Switzerland, msiegrist{at}ethz.ch

Pascale Orlow, MSc

Institute for Environmental Decisions, Consumer Behavior, Zürich, Switzerland

Carmen Keller, PhD

Institute for Environmental Decisions, Consumer Behavior, Zürich, Switzerland

Objective. To evaluate various formats for the communication of prenatal test results. Design. In study 1 (N=400), female students completed a questionnaire assessing risk perception, affect, and perceived usefulness of prenatal test results. A randomized, 2 (risk level; low, high) x 4 (format; ratio with numerator 1, ratio with denominator 1000, Paling Perspective Scale, pictograms) design was used. Study 2 (N=200) employed a 2 (risk level; low, high) x 2 (format; Paling Perspective Scale, risk comparisons in numerical format) design. Results. In study 1, the Paling Perspective Scale resulted in a higher level of perceived risk across different risk levels compared with the other formats. Furthermore, participants in the low-risk group perceived the test results as less risky compared with participants in the high-risk group (P < 0.001) when the Paling Perspective Scale was used. No significant differences between low and high risks were observed for the other 3 formats. In study 2, the Paling Perspective Scale evoked higher levels of perceived risks relative to the numerical presentation of risk comparisons. For both formats, we found that participants confronted with a high risk perceived test results as more risky compared with participants confronted with a low risk. Conclusion. The Paling Perspective Scale resulted in a higher level of perceived risk compared with the other formats. This effect must be taken into account when choosing a graphical or numerical format for risk communication.

Key Words: risk perception • risk communication • prenatal tests. (Med Decis Making 2008;28:567—574)

This version was published on July 1, 2008

Medical Decision Making, Vol. 28, No. 4, 567-574 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0272989X08315237


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