BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence I.S. van Strien-Knippenberg METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260116T114500 DTEND:20260116T131500 DTSTAMP:20260116T114500 UID:phd-defence-i-s-van-strien-kni@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260924T230235 LOCATION:VU Main Building, 1105, De Boelelaan, 1081 HV, Amsterdam SUMMARY:PhD defence I.S. van Strien-Knippenberg X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Visualizing Personal ized Health Risk Information to Enhance Understanding

Showing personalized health risks is not enough: understanding r equires more than an attractive visualization

The study focused on breast cancer treatment and br east cancer screening. Through interviews and co-creation, the resear cher examined the ideas, expectations, and information needs of patie nts and citizens when they receive personalized risk information. Tog ether with them, informational materials and visualizations were deve loped and subsequently tested for comprehensibility and usability. Th e research also explored differences between people with varying leve ls of health literacy and numeracy.

The results show that “la ypeople” approach health risks differently from experts. What seems logical or important to professionals often does not align with what citizens need or expect. Existing beliefs play a major role in how p eople interpret risk information. Effective communication therefore n eeds to connect with what people already know as well as with what th ey want to know.

Notably, the use of visualizations - such as g raphs or pictograms - does not automatically lead to better understan ding. Nor do these tools reduce the gap between people with higher an d lower levels of health literacy or numeracy. Visualizations are the refore no magic solution, the study shows.

If personalized risk information is not presented carefully, there is a risk that especia lly people with lower skills will disengage or draw incorrect conclus ions. This can further widen existing health disparities. The researc h therefore underscores the importance of clear guidelines for risk c ommunication and a structured, well-organized presentation of informa tion.

For healthcare professionals and organizations that devel op health information, for example for leaflets, websites, dashboards , or use in clinical consultations, this means looking beyond simply adding attractive charts. Involving the target audience from the very beginning of the design process is crucial. Only by developing and t esting materials together with users can it be determined whether peo ple truly understand the information and can use it when making healt h decisions.

Further research is needed to better support peopl e with lower levels of health literacy and numeracy. In this way, per sonalized risk information can contribute to better and fairer health care, rather than to growing health inequalities.

More informat ion on the thesis

DESCRIPTION: Visualizing Personalized Health Risk Information to Enhan ce Understanding

Showing personalized health risks is not enough: understanding requires more than an attractive visualization

With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and pred ictive models, citizens and patients are increasingly receiving perso nalized estimates of their health risks. This information can support decisions about treatment or prevention—but only if people truly u nderstand it. Research by Inge van Strien-Knippenberg shows that this is far from self-evident, and that the way risks are presented can h ave major societal consequences.The study focused on breast cancer tr eatment and breast cancer screening. Through interviews and co-creati on, the researcher examined the ideas, expectations, and information needs of patients and citizens when they receive personalized risk in formation. Together with them, informational materials and visualizat ions were developed and subsequently tested for comprehensibility and usability. The research also explored differences between people wit h varying levels of health literacy and numeracy.The results show tha t “laypeople” approach health risks differently from experts. Wha t seems logical or important to professionals often does not align wi th what citizens need or expect. Existing beliefs play a major role i n how people interpret risk information. Effective communication ther efore needs to connect with what people already know as well as with what they want to know.Notably, the use of visualizations - such as g raphs or pictograms - does not automatically lead to better understan ding. Nor do these tools reduce the gap between people with higher an d lower levels of health literacy or numeracy. Visualizations are the refore no magic solution, the study shows.If personalized risk inform ation is not presented carefully, there is a risk that especially peo ple with lower skills will disengage or draw incorrect conclusions. T his can further widen existing health disparities. The research there fore underscores the importance of clear guidelines for risk communic ation and a structured, well-organized presentation of information.Fo r healthcare professionals and organizations that develop health info rmation, for example for leaflets, websites, dashboards, or use in cl inical consultations, this means looking beyond simply adding attract ive charts. Involving the target audience from the very beginning of the design process is crucial. Only by developing and testing materia ls together with users can it be determined whether people truly unde rstand the information and can use it when making health decisions.Fu rther research is needed to better support people with lower levels o f health literacy and numeracy. In this way, personalized risk inform ation can contribute to better and fairer healthcare, rather than to growing health inequalities.More information on the thesis END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR