How Framing Medical Treatments Affects Patient Risk-Taking Behavior
Abstract
The framing effect, a psychological phenomenon in which decision-making is influenced by how information is presented, is crucial in understanding human behavior under risk. This study examined the influence of positive versus negative framing on risk-taking behavior in a medical context. This study hypothesized that participants exposed to positive framing (emphasizing success) would exhibit lower levels of risk-taking behavior, while participants exposed to negative framing (emphasizing failure) would display higher levels of risk-taking behavior. Participants chose between two hypothetical treatment options for a life-threatening illness, with framing manipulated accordingly. Decision-making was assessed through participant preference, confidence, and awareness of cognitive influences. An independent samples t-test did not indicate a significant difference in risk-taking scores between groups, t(52) = -1.415, p = 0.163, Cohen’s d = -0.386. However, descriptive statistics showed a trend where negative framing (M = 2.414, SD = 0.983) led to slightly higher levels of risk-taking than positive framing (M = 2.080, SD = 0.702). Although not statistically significant, these findings align with prior research indicating that negative framing may encourage riskier choices. This study contributes to research on framing effects in medical decision-making, emphasizing how language is presented may unintentionally influence patient choices. The results have implications for healthcare communication, where framing could shape treatment decisions. Future research with a larger sample size could help clarify these effects, contributing to better medical communication strategies and mitigating framing biases in high-risk medical contexts to ensure patient choices are based on objective risk assessment rather than cognitive influences.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Patrick Cooper
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
2-4-2025 12:30 PM
End Date
3-4-2025 12:00 PM
How Framing Medical Treatments Affects Patient Risk-Taking Behavior
Alvin Sherman Library
The framing effect, a psychological phenomenon in which decision-making is influenced by how information is presented, is crucial in understanding human behavior under risk. This study examined the influence of positive versus negative framing on risk-taking behavior in a medical context. This study hypothesized that participants exposed to positive framing (emphasizing success) would exhibit lower levels of risk-taking behavior, while participants exposed to negative framing (emphasizing failure) would display higher levels of risk-taking behavior. Participants chose between two hypothetical treatment options for a life-threatening illness, with framing manipulated accordingly. Decision-making was assessed through participant preference, confidence, and awareness of cognitive influences. An independent samples t-test did not indicate a significant difference in risk-taking scores between groups, t(52) = -1.415, p = 0.163, Cohen’s d = -0.386. However, descriptive statistics showed a trend where negative framing (M = 2.414, SD = 0.983) led to slightly higher levels of risk-taking than positive framing (M = 2.080, SD = 0.702). Although not statistically significant, these findings align with prior research indicating that negative framing may encourage riskier choices. This study contributes to research on framing effects in medical decision-making, emphasizing how language is presented may unintentionally influence patient choices. The results have implications for healthcare communication, where framing could shape treatment decisions. Future research with a larger sample size could help clarify these effects, contributing to better medical communication strategies and mitigating framing biases in high-risk medical contexts to ensure patient choices are based on objective risk assessment rather than cognitive influences.
