Skip Navigation

JNCI Monographs 1999 1999(25):149-163;
© 1999 by Oxford University Press
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Lipkus, I. M.
Right arrow Articles by Hollands, J. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lipkus, I. M.
Right arrow Articles by Hollands, J. G.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs, No. 25, 149-163, 1999
© 1999 Oxford University Press

The Visual Communication of Risk

Isaac M. Lipkus, J. G. Hollands

Affiliations of authors: I. M. Lipkus, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC; J. G. Hollands, Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine, Toronto, Canada.

Correspondence to: Isaac M. Lipkus, Ph.D., 905 W. Main St., Box 34, Durham, NC 27701 (e-mail: Lipku001{at}mc.duke.edu).

This paper 1) provides reasons why graphics should be effective aids to communicate risk; 2) reviews the use of visuals, especially graphical displays, to communicate risk; 3) discusses issues to consider when designing graphs to communicate risk; and 4) provides suggestions for future research. Key articles and materials were obtained from MEDLINE® and PsychInfo® databases, from reference article citations, and from discussion with experts in risk communication. Research has been devoted primarily to communicating risk magnitudes. Among the various graphical displays, the risk ladder appears to be a promising tool for communicating absolute and relative risks. Preliminary evidence suggests that people understand risk information presented in histograms and pie charts. Areas that need further attention include 1) applying theoretical models to the visual communication of risk, 2) testing which graphical displays can be applied best to different risk communication tasks (e.g., which graphs best convey absolute or relative risks), 3) communicating risk uncertainty, and 4) testing whether the lay public's perceptions and understanding of risk varies by graphical format and whether the addition of graphical displays improves comprehension substantially beyond numerical or narrative translations of risk and, if so, by how much. There is a need to ascertain the extent to which graphics and other visuals enhance the public's understanding of disease risk to facilitate decision-making and behavioral change processes. Nine suggestions are provided to help achieve these ends.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch Intern MedHome page
A. R. Tait, T. Voepel-Lewis, M. Moscucci, C. M. Brennan-Martinez, and R. Levine
Patient Comprehension of an Interactive, Computer-Based Information Program for Cardiac Catheterization: A Comparison With Standard Information
Arch Intern Med, November 9, 2009; 169(20): 1907 - 1914.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
S. B. Haga and S. F. Terry
Ensuring the Safe Use of Genomic Medicine in Children
Clinical Pediatrics, September 1, 2009; 48(7): 703 - 708.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 JCOHome page
K. Visvanathan, R. T. Chlebowski, P. Hurley, N. F. Col, M. Ropka, D. Collyar, M. Morrow, C. Runowicz, K. I. Pritchard, K. Hagerty, et al.
American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline Update on the Use of Pharmacologic Interventions Including Tamoxifen, Raloxifene, and Aromatase Inhibition for Breast Cancer Risk Reduction
J. Clin. Oncol., July 1, 2009; 27(19): 3235 - 3258.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Med Decis MakingHome page
I. M. Lipkus
Numeric, Verbal, and Visual Formats of Conveying Health Risks: Suggested Best Practices and Future Recommendations
Med Decis Making, October 1, 2007; 27(5): 696 - 713.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Med Decis MakingHome page
M. M. Schapira, A. B. Nattinger, and C. A. McHorney
Frequency or Probability? A Qualitative Study of Risk Communication Formats Used in Health Care
Med Decis Making, December 1, 2001; 21(6): 459 - 467.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.