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Why One Number Isn’t Enough for Patients

Adding a comparison number may help patients interpret risk and make better decisions.

  • By

  • Kerri Miller

  • March 5, 2026

  • 2 min

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  • 1

    Numbers presented without comparisons are often meaningless to patients, leading to confusion about their significance.

  • 2

    Providing context, such as comparing a patient's risk to the general population, makes statistics interpretable and actionable.

  • 3

    Research shows that comparisons significantly influence patients' perceptions of risk and treatment effectiveness.

  • 4

    Patients are more likely to take action, such as using risk-reducing medication, when their risk is presented as higher than average.

  • 5

    Two numbers can transform abstract statistics into understandable information, aiding patients in decision-making.

Original Source(s)

Why One Number Isn’t Enough for Patients

  • by Kerri Miller

  • March 5, 2026

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