Patients prefer pictures to numbers to express cardiovascular benefit from treatment

• Published in: Annals of family medicine 2008-05, Vol.6 (3), p.213-217
• Main Authors: Goodyear-Smith, Felicity, Arroll, Bruce, Chan, Lydia, Jackson, Rod, Wells, Sue, Kenealy, Timothy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Attitude to Health; Audiovisual Aids; Cardiovascular Diseases - drug therapy; Cardiovascular Diseases - psychology; Decision Making; Dyslipidemias - drug therapy; Family Practice - methods; Female; Humans; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; New Zealand; Original Research; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Patient Education as Topic - methods; Risk Assessment
• ISSN: 1544-1709; 1544-1717
• DOI: 10.1370/afm.795

This study aimed to determine which methods of expressing a preventive medication's benefit encourage patients with known cardiovascular disease to decide to take the medication and which methods patients prefer. We identified patients in Auckland, New Zealand, family practices located in areas of differing socioeconomic status who had preexisting heart disease (myocardial infarction, angina, or both) and were taking statins. The patients were interviewed about their preference for methods of expressing the benefit of a hypothetical medication. Benefits were expressed numerically (relative risk, absolute risk, number needed to treat, odds ratio, natural frequency) and graphically. Statistical testing was adjusted for practice. We interviewed 100 eligible patients, representing a 53% response rate. No matter how the risk was expressed, the majority of patients indicated they would be encouraged to take the medication. Two-thirds (68) of the patients preferred 1 method of expressing benefit over others. Of this group, 57% preferred the information presented graphically. This value was significantly greater (P