An Evaluation of a Dynamic Web-Based Visualization of Community Immunity

Overview

This study is a PhD project conducted by Ms. Hina Hakim, supervised by Dr. Holly O. Witteman, PhD, and co-supervised Dr. Daniel Reinharz, professors and researchers at the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of visualization conveying the concept of community immunity or herd immunity on risk perception (towards individual, family, community and vulnerable people in communities) (primary outcome) and on emotions, attitudes, knowledge, and behavioural intentions (secondary outcomes).

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: Randomized
    • Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
    • Masking: Single (Investigator)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: May 2021

Detailed Description

Visualization is a powerful communication mechanism that uses pre-attentive processing to communicate large amounts of information rapidly in understandable and compelling ways (Healey and Enns 2012). A systematic review demonstrates that there are some interventions available for conveying the concept of community immunity, and very few evaluate interventions for their effects on vaccine intentions and uptake as well as their precursors, such as knowledge, attitudes, knowledge and none on emotions (Hakim et al. 2018). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of visualization conveying the concept of community immunity on risk perception (to individual, family, community and vulnerable people in communities) (primary outcome) and on emotions, attitudes, knowledge, and behavioural intentions (secondary outcomes).

Interventions

  • Behavioral: herdimm
    • In this visualization participants can build their own avatar representing themselves and 8 other avatars representing people around them, like their family or coworkers. Our visualization then uses these avatars in a brief narrated video explaining how herd immunity works.
  • Behavioral: guardianmeasles
    • A screen capture of an interactive visualization: https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2015/feb/05/-sp-watch-how-measles-outbreak-spreads-when-kids-get-vaccinated
  • Behavioral: theotheredmundmeasles
    • A gif showing measles spreading through populations with differing levels of vaccine coverage: https://imgur.com/gallery/8M7q8#J7LANQ4
  • Behavioral: sbsnewsgeneric
    • A video showing how herd immunity works in general: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/two-sydney-babies-too-young-to-be-vaccinated-infected-with-measles
  • Behavioral: publichealthagencycanadaflu
    • A video showing how herd immunity works in the context of influenza: https://www.canada.ca/fr/sante-publique/services/video/la-grippe-n-en-passez-pas-les-maux.html
  • Behavioral: robertkochgeneric
    • A web-based application showing how herd immunity works in general: http://rocs.hu-berlin.de/D3/herd/

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • No Intervention: controlgeneric
    • No intervention provided. Participant answers outcome questions about an unnamed vaccine-preventable disease. English and French.
  • No Intervention: controlmeasles
    • No intervention provided. Participant answers outcome questions about measles. English and French.
  • No Intervention: controlpertussis
    • No intervention provided. Participant answers outcome questions about pertussis. English and French.
  • No Intervention: controlflu
    • No intervention provided. Participant answers outcome questions about flu. English and French.
  • Experimental: herdimmgeneric
    • Web-based application (main intervention) provided. Participant answers outcome questions about an unnamed vaccine-preventable disease. English and French.
  • Experimental: herdimmmeasles
    • Web-based application (main intervention) provided. Participant answers outcome questions about measles. English and French.
  • Experimental: herdimmpertussis
    • Web-based application (main intervention) provided. Participant answers outcome questions about pertussis. English and French.
  • Experimental: herdimmflu
    • Web-based application (main intervention) provided. Participant answers outcome questions about flu. English and French.
  • Active Comparator: robertkochgeneric
    • Web-based application (comparator) provided. Participant answers outcome questions about an unnamed vaccine-preventable disease. English only.
  • Active Comparator: sbsnewsgeneric
    • Video (comparator) provided. Participant answers outcome questions about an unnamed vaccine-preventable disease. English only.
  • Active Comparator: guardianmeasles
    • Video (comparator) provided. Participant answers outcome questions about measles. English only.
  • Active Comparator: theotheredmundmeasles
    • Video (comparator) provided. Participant answers outcome questions about measles. English only.
  • Active Comparator: publichealthagencycanadaflu
    • Video (comparator) provided. Participant answers outcome questions about flu. English and French.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Risk perception
    • Time Frame: immediately after intervention or control
    • 6 ad hoc questions assessing risk perception

Secondary Measures

  • emotions, attitudes, knowledge, and behavioural intentions
    • Time Frame: immediately after intervention or control
    • ad hoc questions and 5C scale (Betsch et al.)

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Members of the general population in Canada – At least 18 years old – Able to provide free and informed consent – Able to read and understand French or English – Able to use a computer Exclusion Criteria:

  • No internet access

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Laval University
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor
  • Overall Contact(s)
    • Holly Witteman, PhD, 418-656-2131, holly.witteman.1@ulaval.ca

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