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Vaccine. 2017 Jun 2. pii: S0264-410X(17)30684-9. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.05.048. [Epub ahead of print]
Communicating infectious disease prevalence through graphics: Results from an international survey.
Fagerlin A1, Valley TS2, Scherer AM3, Knaus M4, Das E5, Zikmund-Fisher BJ6.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Graphics are increasingly used to represent the spread of infectious diseases (e.g., influenza, Zika, Ebola); however, the impact of using graphics to adequately inform the general population is unknown.
OBJECTIVE:
To examine whether three ways of visually presenting data (heat map, dot map, or picto-trendline)-all depicting the same information regarding the spread of a hypothetical outbreak of influenza-influence intent to vaccinate, risk perception, and knowledge.
DESIGN:
Survey with participants randomized to receive a simulated news article accompanied by one of the three graphics that communicated prevalence of influenza and number of influenza-related deaths.
SETTING:
International online survey.
PARTICIPANTS:
16,510 adults living in 11 countries selected using stratified random sampling based on age and gender.
MEASUREMENTS:
After reading the article and viewing the presented graphic, participants completed a survey that measured interest in vaccination, perceived risk of contracting disease, knowledge gained, interest in additional information about the disease, and perception of the graphic.
RESULTS:
Heat maps and picto-trendlines were evaluated more positively than dot maps. Heat maps were more effective than picto-trendlines and no different from dot maps at increasing interest in vaccination, perceived risk of contracting disease, and interest in additional information about the disease. Heat maps and picto-trendlines were more successful at conveying knowledge than dot maps. Overall, heat maps were the only graphic to be superior in every outcome.
LIMITATIONS:
Results are based on a hypothetical scenario.
CONCLUSION:
Heat maps are a viable option to promote interest in and concern about infectious diseases.
Copyright ? 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Communication; Graphics; Infectious disease; Influenza; Vaccination
PMID: 28647168 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.05.048
Communicating infectious disease prevalence through graphics: Results from an international survey.
Fagerlin A1, Valley TS2, Scherer AM3, Knaus M4, Das E5, Zikmund-Fisher BJ6.
Author information
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Graphics are increasingly used to represent the spread of infectious diseases (e.g., influenza, Zika, Ebola); however, the impact of using graphics to adequately inform the general population is unknown.
OBJECTIVE:
To examine whether three ways of visually presenting data (heat map, dot map, or picto-trendline)-all depicting the same information regarding the spread of a hypothetical outbreak of influenza-influence intent to vaccinate, risk perception, and knowledge.
DESIGN:
Survey with participants randomized to receive a simulated news article accompanied by one of the three graphics that communicated prevalence of influenza and number of influenza-related deaths.
SETTING:
International online survey.
PARTICIPANTS:
16,510 adults living in 11 countries selected using stratified random sampling based on age and gender.
MEASUREMENTS:
After reading the article and viewing the presented graphic, participants completed a survey that measured interest in vaccination, perceived risk of contracting disease, knowledge gained, interest in additional information about the disease, and perception of the graphic.
RESULTS:
Heat maps and picto-trendlines were evaluated more positively than dot maps. Heat maps were more effective than picto-trendlines and no different from dot maps at increasing interest in vaccination, perceived risk of contracting disease, and interest in additional information about the disease. Heat maps and picto-trendlines were more successful at conveying knowledge than dot maps. Overall, heat maps were the only graphic to be superior in every outcome.
LIMITATIONS:
Results are based on a hypothetical scenario.
CONCLUSION:
Heat maps are a viable option to promote interest in and concern about infectious diseases.
Copyright ? 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Communication; Graphics; Infectious disease; Influenza; Vaccination
PMID: 28647168 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.05.048