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Infographics can influence how people perceive the risks of Lyme disease and encourage them to take preventive measures, according to new research co-authored by a Florida State University professor.

Patrick Merle, director of FSU's School of Communication, co-authored the study, which found that infographics increased participants' perceptions of their susceptibility to tick bites and Lyme disease, as well as their intentions to take preventive action.

The findings, published in the Journal of Health Communication, also showed that how numbers were presented mattered. Participants who saw percentages rather than absolute numbers perceived Lyme disease as less severe, suggesting that the way public health information is presented can influence how people respond to potential risks.

Participants in the study were randomly assigned to view fictitious news articles and infographics about ticks and Lyme disease with experimental variations. Specifically, the participants were randomly assigned to see or not see the infographic. All participants saw the article. The infographic and article contained the same substantive information about ticks and Lyme disease.

The research specifically reviewed whether the presence or absence of infographics and the format of data communicated to the public affected how participants thought about Lyme disease risk.

Presenting the data as percentages (such as "50% of counties") reduced perceived severity compared to absolute values (for example, "1,571 counties"). Participants who viewed an article and an infographic with percentage-based statistics did not feel as susceptible to risks associated with Lyme disease.

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