Table 1 Risk formats: Description of formats and summation of preferences

1

Statement

Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years is 16%.

3

0

3

2

Statement

Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years is 16%. The average risk for someone of your age and gender is 8% in 5 years.

3

3

6

3

Statement with icon display

The odds that you will have a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years are about 5 to 1 with six faces.

5 grouped green, smiling and 1 red, sad.

2

2

4

4

Statement with icon display

1 in 6 people like you will have a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years with six faces.

5 adjacent green, smiling and 1 red, sad.

1

1

2

5

Statement [36]

You are 50 years old. Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years is 16%. This is the same risk as an average person who is 67 years old!

7

5

12

6

Line graph [37]

CVD risk and life expectancy. Chance of surviving without having a heart attack or stroke.

Lines graphed for 'average risk profile' in blue and 'your risk profile' in red.

3

0

3

7

Icon display

Risk shown in icon display. Your risk:

100 faces arranged in a block, 84 grouped, green, smiling (no heart attack or stroke within 5 years) and 16 grouped, red, sad (heart attack or stroke within 5 years).

1

0

1

8

Icon display

Your risk:

100 faces, organised as per option 7 (84 green, 7 red).

Average risk for someone your age and gender:

100 faces, same organisation, (92 green, 8 red).

3

2

5

9

Icon display [38]

Your risk:

100 faces in a block but 'risk' faces distributed at random, with 84 green, smiling (no heart attack or stroke within 5 years) and 16 red, sad (heart attack/stroke within 5 years).

2

0

2

10

Icon display [38]

Your risk:

100 faces, organised as per option 9 (84 green, 7 red random distribution).

Average risk for someone your age and gender:

100 faces, same organisation, (92 green, 8 red).

1

0

1

11

Icon display

Your risk:

25 faces, 21 grouped, green, smiling and 4 grouped, red, sad.

0

1

1

12

Icon display

Your risk:

25 faces, organised as per option 11 (21 green, smiling and 4 red, sad).

Average risk for someone your age and gender:

25 faces, as per option 11, but with 23 green and 2 red.

0

3

3

13

Thermometer display [35]

Risk shown in a 'Thermometer'. Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years.

Risk marked on a thermometer, using green for low (0-5%), yellow for moderate (5%-10%) and high (10%-20%+) in red. Arrow marks risk at 16%.

5

10

15

14

Thermometer display [35]

Risk shown in a 'Thermometer'. Your risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years, and Your risk if you were a non-smoker.

As per option 13, but with a second arrow marking risk level if a non-smoker (less than 10%).

9

15

24

15

Vertical bar chart [34]

Title: Risk shown in bar chart.

Label for graph: Risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years.

Your risk: Red bar, at 16%;

Your risk if receiving treatment:

Blue bar, < 11%;

Average risk for someone of your age and sex: Yellow bar, 8%.

12

10

22

16

Line graph

Title: Risk shown in a line graph.

Label for graph: Risk of having a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years.

Horizontal axis: age; vertical axis: percent risk.

3

4

7