| Title: |
Communicating cancer treatment with pictogram-based timeline visualizations |
| Authors: |
Jambor, Helena Klara; Ketges, Julian; Otto, Anna Lea; von Bonin, Malte; Trautmann-Grill, Karolin; Teipel, Raphael; Middeke, Jan Moritz; Uhlig, Maria; Eichler, Martin; Pannasch, Sebastian; Bornhäuser, Martin |
| Contributors: |
Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus; Technische Universität Dresden; Mildred Scheel Early Career Center Dresden P2/German Cancer Aid; Deutsche Krebshilfe; Hochschulstiftung Medizin Dresden |
| Source: |
Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association ; volume 32, issue 3, page 480-491 ; ISSN 1067-5027 1527-974X |
| Publisher Information: |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
| Publication Year: |
2025 |
| Description: |
Objective This study evaluated the legibility, comprehension, and clinical usability of visual timelines for communicating cancer treatment paths. We examined how these visual aids enhance participants’ and patients’ understanding of their treatment plans. Materials and Methods The study included 2 online surveys and 1 in-person survey with hematology cancer patients. The online surveys involved 306 and 160 participants, respectively, while the clinical evaluation included 30 patients (11 re-surveyed) and 24 medical doctors. Participants were assessed on their ability to understand treatment paths provided with audio information alone or with visual aids. The study also evaluated the comprehensibility of key treatment terms and the ability of patients to recall their cancer treatment paths. Results Visual representations effectively communicated treatment terms, with 7 out of 8 terms achieving over 85% transparency as pictograms, compared to 5 out of 8 for comics and 4 out of 8 for photos. Visual treatment timelines improved the proportion of correct responses, increased confidence, and were rated higher in information quality than audio-only information. In the clinical evaluation, patients showed good comprehension (mean proportion correct: 0.82) and recall (mean proportion correct: 0.71 after several weeks), and both patients and physicians found the visual aids helpful. Discussion We discuss that visual timelines enhance patient comprehension and confidence in cancer communication. We also discuss limitations of the online surveys and clinical evaluation. The importance of accessible visual aids in patient consultations is emphasized, with potential benefits for diverse patient populations. Conclusion Visual aids in the form of treatment timelines improve the legibility and comprehension of cancer treatment paths. Both patients and physicians support integrating these tools into cancer treatment communication. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| Language: |
English |
| DOI: |
10.1093/jamia/ocae319 |
| Availability: |
https://doi.org/10.1093/jamia/ocae319; https://academic.oup.com/jamia/article-pdf/32/3/480/61459660/ocae319.pdf |
| Rights: |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.B4DF728A |
| Database: |
BASE |