Personal communication beats scary pictures in prevention strategies
This study reinforces the particular strength of effective personal communication in prevention strategies. Two groups of regular smokers participated in a year long cessation programme, but only half were screened then shown pictures of plaque build up in their cartoid artery. The difference in quit rates was 24/9% and 22.1%, so using the worrying pictures made no significant difference.
Link:
Impact of Carotid Plaque Screening on Smoking Cessation and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Archives of Internal Medicine
On Motivating Patients: A Picture, Even If Worth a Thousand Words, Is Not Enough. Archives of Internal Medicine