Paul Han|William M. P. Klein|Tom Lehman|Bill Killam|Holly A. Massett|Andrew Freedman
Communication of Uncertainty Regarding Individualized Cancer Risk Estimates
Maine Medical Center|National Cancer Institute|Academy for Educational Development|Maine Medical Center|National Cancer Institute|Academy for Educational Development|Maine Medical Center|National Cancer Institute|Academy for Educational Development|Maine Medical Center|National Cancer Institute|Academy for Educational Development|Maine Medical Center|National Cancer Institute|Academy for Educational Development|Maine Medical Center|National Cancer Institute|Academy for Educational Development
objective examine effects communicating uncertainty regarding individualized colorectal cancer risk estimates identify factors influence effects methods two webbased experiments conducted adults aged 40 years older provided hypothetical individualized colorectal cancer risk estimates differing extent representation expressed uncertainty uncertainty consisted imprecision otherwise known ambiguity risk estimates communicated using different representations confidence intervals experiment 1 n 240 tested effects ambiguity confidence interval v point estimate representational format textual v visual cancer risk perceptions worry potential effect modifiers including personality type optimism numeracy informations perceived credibility examined along influence communicating uncertainty responses comparative risk information experiment 2 n 135 tested enhanced representations ambiguity incorporated supplemental textual visual depictions results communicating uncertainty led heightened cancerrelated worry participants exemplifying phenomenon ambiguity aversion effect moderated representational format dispositional optimism textual v visual format low v high optimism associated greater ambiguity aversion however enhanced representations used communicate uncertainty textual visual formats showed similar effects communication uncertainty use visual format diminished influence comparative risk information risk perceptions conclusions communication uncertainty regarding cancer risk estimates complex effects include heightening cancerrelated worryconsistent ambiguity aversionand diminishing influence comparative risk information risk perceptions responses influenced representational format personality type influence format appears modifiable content dependent