Visual Aids for Genetic Risk

Overseen By Andrew A Dwyer, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Stephanie B. Seminara, MD

Disqualifiers: Incorrect validation responses

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine how people understand risk information from genetic tests. Participants will view one of two visual aids, the Narrative Visual Array or the Visual Array, to assess which better aids in grasping genetic risk. The study also examines participants' feelings about these risks and whether they discuss the results with family members. Ideal candidates for this trial can read and understand English and are willing to discuss their experiences with genetic risk. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding how genetic risk information is communicated and perceived.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on understanding risk perception from genetic testing, so it's unlikely that your medications would be affected.

What prior data suggests that these visual aids are safe for participants?

Research has shown that both the Narrative Visual Array and Visual Array are safe for use. The Narrative Visual Array simplifies complex risks, making them easier to understand. Studies have found that these visual tools clarify significant risks without causing harm. Similarly, the Visual Array effectively communicates medical risks using simple icons. Designed to enhance understanding of risk information, these tools have not been associated with any negative effects. Both methods aim to improve comprehension, with no evidence of safety concerns for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Visual Aids for Genetic Risk trial because it explores innovative ways to help people understand their genetic risk through visual tools. The Narrative Visual Array presents information as a story with evolving images, making complex data more relatable and easier to follow. Meanwhile, the Visual Array offers a straightforward side-by-side visual comparison, simplifying the interpretation of genetic information. These methods differ from standard genetic counseling, which typically relies on verbal explanations or static charts, by potentially enhancing comprehension and engagement with personal genetic risk information.

What evidence suggests that this trial's visual aids could be effective for understanding genetic risk?

This trial will compare two visual aids for understanding genetic risks: the Narrative Visual Array and the Visual Array. Research has shown that pictures can enhance comprehension of genetic risks. Studies have found that story-like picture sequences, such as those in the Narrative Visual Array, simplify complex genetic concepts. These visuals illustrate how genetic risks might influence decision-making. Simple pictures, like icon arrays used in the Visual Array, also aid in accurately understanding genetic risk information and increase knowledge about these risks. Both types of visuals aim to clarify and simplify genetic risk information. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Andrew A Dwyer, PhD

Principal Investigator

Boston College

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who can read and understand English and have given consent to participate. It's designed to help researchers learn how different visual aids can affect a person's understanding of genetic risk from testing results.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to read and understand English

Opt-in consent

Exclusion Criteria

Incorrect responses to validation questions

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive one of two visual aids showing genetic risk and state their estimation of risk

1 day

1 visit (virtual)

Assessment

Participants complete health literacy and numeracy assessments and answer questions about risk perception and communication intent

1 day

1 visit (virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any additional feedback or changes in perception after the intervention

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Narrative Visual Array
• Visual Array

Trial Overview The study is comparing two types of visual aids: a Visual Array and a Narrative Visual Array, to see which one helps people more accurately assess their genetic risk. Participants will view one of these aids, estimate their risk, and discuss feelings about the risk and sharing info with family.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Visual Array Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Single, side-by-side visual array

Group II: Narrative Visual Array Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Evolving narrative showing sequential visual arrays

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Stephanie B. Seminara, MD

Lead Sponsor

Trials

10

Recruited

840+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Boston College

Collaborator

Trials

40

Recruited

49,300+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11632560/

Evaluating the efficacy of genetic counseling visual aids These results indicate that visual aids improve knowledge of specific genetic counseling concepts such as inheritance patterns; the education of ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772628221000030

Investigating the presentation of uncertainty in an icon array We found weak evidence in favor of using simple pictographs with ranges to communicate BRCA risk (versus text alone), and of the tabular layout.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4045391/

Presenting quantitative information about decision outcomes This paper summarises current “best practices” in communication of evidence-based numeric outcomes for developers of patient decision aids (PtDAs)

4. arxiv.org arxiv.org/html/2509.16465v1

Graphical Perception of Icon Arrays versus Bar Charts for ... This research contributes empirically-grounded design recommendations to improve comparison in health risk communication and support more ...

5. ebm.bmj.com ebm.bmj.com/content/early/2025/07/01/bmjebm-2025-113738

Accurate is not enough: select formats for communicating ... The choice of probability communication format changes the outcomes that a patient, clinician or policy-maker will experience without changing ...

6. cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-025-00613-w

Narrative visualizations: Depicting accumulating risks and ... We show that narrative visualizations are more effective than static visualizations at increasing concern about large risks because they increase one's ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11845644/

Narrative visualizations: Depicting accumulating risks and ... We show that narrative visualizations are more effective than static visualizations at increasing concern about large risks because they increase one's ...

8. riskliteracy.org riskliteracy.org/files/Systematic%20Review.pdf

A Systematic Review of Health Research and Evidence- ... Objective: The aim of this study was to review the lit- erature on the effect of numeracy on risk literacy, decision making, and health outcomes, and to ...

9. journals.sagepub.com journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/23814683241255334

Scope, Methods, and Overview Findings for the Making ... To develop comprehensive evidence-based guidance about how to communicate probabilities in health and to identify strengths and weaknesses in the literature.