Healthcare providers' understanding of data displays of clinical trial information: a scoping review of the literature

BackgroundHealthcare providers often encounter clinical trial results in the form of visual data displays. Although there is a robust literature on patient responses to data displays in medical settings, less is known about how providers comprehend and apply this information. Our study provides a scoping review of the literature on providers' reactions to and perceptions of data displays.MethodsWe searched article databases (PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Cochrane Library) supplemented by handsearching. Eligible articles were published in English from 1990 to 2020.ResultsWe identified 15 articles meeting our criteria. Studies with physicians were more prevalent (13/15) than those with other healthcare providers (6/15). Commonly assessed outcomes included objective (10/15) and subjective comprehension (4/15), preference for certain data display formats (6/15), and hypothetical decision-making around prescribing (4/15). In studies that assessed comprehension of clinical trial concepts, scores were average or below what would be considered mastery of the information. Data display formats that were preferred did not always correlate with better comprehension of information; lesser preferred formats (e.g. icon array) often resulted in better comprehension.ConclusionOur findings suggest that healthcare providers may not accurately interpret complex types of data displays, and it is unknown if such limitations affect actual decision-making. Interventions are needed to enhance comprehension of complex data displays within the context of prescription drug professional promotion.