BACKGROUND Risk visualizations are often employed to support risk communication. However, their effectiveness in communication of single absolute risks remains unclear. We investigated the effectiveness of risk visualizations in conveying verbatim knowledge of single absolute risks among the general population. METHODS Randomly sampled members of the general Dutch population completed four basic risk conversions from percentages to natural frequencies and vice versa. By random investigator-blinded allocation, these conversions were supported by either icon arrays, pie charts, bar graphs or no visualization. Verbatim risk knowledge was scored as the number of conversions completed correctly. RESULTS 393 subjects were included. Overall, 60% of respondents answered all four questions correctly. Risk format (percentages vs. natural frequencies, p = 0.677) and risk magnitude (p = 0.532) were not associated with verbatim risk knowledge score. Younger age (p = 0.001) and higher education level (p < 0.001) were independently associated with higher scores. The use of risk visualizations was not associated with higher scores (OR = 1.08; 95% confidence interval: 0.69-1.69; p = 0.745). All three forms of risk visualization were equally ineffective. These findings held when stratifying by risk format, risk magnitude and user preference for a certain form of risk visualization. There were no significant interactions with age or education level. CONCLUSION Risk visualizations did not improve conveyance of verbatim knowledge of single absolute risks, irrespective of age, education level, risk magnitude, risk format and form of risk visualization. Risk visualizations may therefore be less suitable for settings in which detailed conveyance of single absolute risks is the main objective, although their effect on user experience and perception of risk communication and subsequent patient activation and participation remains to be elucidated.

中文翻译：

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风险可视化会增强对数字风险的理解吗？一项由研究者盲目进行的随机总体人口调查。

背景技术通常使用风险可视化来支持风险交流。但是，它们在传达单一绝对风险方面的有效性仍不清楚。我们调查了风险可视化在传达一般人群中单个绝对风险的逐字记录知识方面的有效性。方法从荷兰总人口中随机抽样，完成了从百分比到自然频率的四个基本风险转换，反之亦然。通过研究者的盲目分配，这些转换由图标数组，饼图，条形图或没有可视化来支持。逐字记录风险知识的评分是正确完成的转化次数。结果纳入393名受试者。总体而言，有60％的受访者正确回答了所有四个问题。风险格式（百分比与自然频率，p = 0.677）和风险大小（p = 0.532）与逐字风险知识得分无关。年龄较小（p = 0.001）和文化程度较高（p <0.001）与较高的分数独立相关。风险可视化的使用与更高的分数无关（OR = 1.08； 95％置信区间：0.69-1.69； p = 0.745）。风险可视化的所有三种形式均无效。当按风险形式，风险大小和用户对某种形式的风险可视化的偏好进行分层时，这些发现仍然成立。与年龄或文化程度之间没有显着的相互作用。结论风险可视化不能改善单个绝对风险的逐字记录知识的传递，而与年龄，教育程度，风险大小，风险格式和风险可视化形式无关。