Visualising Medical Research: Exploring the Influence of Infographics on Professional Dissemination

Objective This study explores the impact of infographics on the professional dissemination of medical research. Recognising the burgeoning volume of data in the medical domain, this research aims to bridge the gap by investigating the efficacy of infographics in rendering complex medical concepts understandable to diverse audiences, including policymakers, patients, and the public. Design The study uses a cross-sectional survey to assess medical professionals' familiarity with infographic design and data visualisation principles. Setting. The research targets medical professionals with published articles across various subfields, including Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology, Pharmacology, Healthcare Management, Medical Imaging, and Public Health. Method Data collection involves an online survey distributed to potential participants through professional networks and research institutions. The survey encompasses Likert-scale questions and demographic variables. Ethical considerations include obtaining approval from the institutional review board, ensuring participant consent, and maintaining data anonymity and confidentiality. Results Demographic analysis reveals a diverse participant profile, with 58.7% male and 41.3% female respondents, spanning various age groups, professional experiences, and geographic locations. Assessing familiarity with infographic design and data visualisation principles demonstrates respondents' proficiency in certain areas while highlighting potential areas for improvement. Conclusion The study underscores the multifaceted benefits of infographics in research dissemination, as medical professionals perceive. Infographics can effectively convey various kinds of medical research information across diverse platforms and channels.


Introduction
Efective communication of research fndings is a dynamic challenge in today's ever-evolving landscape.Traditional methods of conveying research results often rely on extensive textual formats, which might not engage modern audiences.To address this issue, innovative visual communication tools, such as infographics, have emerged as potent vehicles for presenting complex information concisely and captivatingly [1].Te term infographics refers to the visual representation of information or data.Tey distil intricate data and concepts into visually appealing and easily understandable formats, ofering a dynamic alternative to text-heavy approaches [2][3][4].Te various types of infographics used in the medical feld are statistical infographics that represent visual communication through graphs, charts, or percentages.Tis helps to quickly understand the correlations, patterns, and trends which can be missed while reading from within a text.Te following common types of infographics used are process infographics, which depict the breakdown of information in linear, easy-to-understandable patterns.Comparison infographics aid in absorbing the diferences between trends.Hierarchical, timeline, interactive, fowchart, map, and visual abstracts are a few other types of infographics [5,6].
Infographics trace back to ancient times when cavedwelling communities utilised visual representations for communicating ideas, especially without written language [7].Over the past millennia, infographics have reemerged as a powerful means of conveying information swiftly and efectively [8].A single image possesses the capacity to convey a multitude of meanings contingent on individual perceptions [9].When integrated with the text, the context of the information provided by the infographics is routinely used in public education, as in trafc signals and scientifc felds, for clarity [10,11].
Information visualisation has assisted information seekers [12,13] and is used to efectively cater to the community's diverse needs.To ensure that the most critical fndings are conveyed to the audience most efciently, infographics are utilised during conferences and poster presentations [14], on social media platforms, in education, and even for amusement [15][16][17].Libraries and librarians utilise infographics extensively for crafting user guides, elucidating library services, software utilisation, and metric study tools [18,19].
In research, infographics are essential for efectively communicating complex information [20].Teir ability to convey complex information concisely and engagingly has revolutionised how medical insights are disseminated [21].Tis paper focuses on exploring the transformative potential of infographics in the context of disseminating medical research.Trough a meticulous cross-sectional analysis involving medical experts, this study aims to uncover the multifaceted impacts of infographics on conveying essential medical insights.
1.1.Literature Review.Infographic use in the medical feld was reported by Martin et al. [22] and observed to have the advantages of overcoming language barriers and enhancing medical information accessibility.It examines fve infographic types: Isotype Arrays for unbiased representation, Polar Area Diagrams for temporal trends, Word Clouds for text summarisation, Hub and Spoke Diagrams for complex relationships, and Charticles for concise communication.Infographics ofer a promising approach, but the study emphasises the need for precise design and context, particularly for diverse audiences.Infographics efectively combine storytelling, creative visual design, and efcient technological utilisation [23].Infographics represent literature with text and visual information.In multimedia worlds, visual description is widely recommended [24,25].Te infographics can be in the form of diagrams, graphs, images, and text.Tis is widely used in pedagogy methods [26].
During the past few years, visual data applications have been used to convey critical information in the scientifc literature [27].Visual data can be erroneous if the data collection technique or data assimilation is not meticulously followed.Cleveland [28] discovered that around 30% of the graphs featured in the journal Science contained at least one form of error.Infographics can only be efective if data are properly organised [29].
Damschroder et al. [30] observed in their studies that much of the medical research documented as evidencebased is not translated into patient care and safety outcomes.Hence, they composed fve major domains: intervention characteristics (e.g., evidence strength and quality), outer setting (e.g., patient needs and resources), inner setting (e.g., culture and leadership engagement), characteristics of the individuals involved, and the process of implementation (e.g., plan, evaluate, and refect).Tey observed that following this composed structure could enable evidence-based publication to translate into practice in the medical feld.Te same structure can be used for other organisations to implement publications in practice.
Nieuwland et al. [31] observed that the most commonly used knowledge dissemination methods were academic journals, conferences, reports to funders, and social media.Te above dissemination required resources, knowledge, skills, and fnance.Regarding public news and social media, workshops and meetings were better suited for the public [31,32].Balkac and Ergun [33] observed that using infographics helps the public and health sectors understand and grasp the information quickly without much complication, provided the graphics are aesthetic and engaging.Infographics can be used in healthcare, technology, business, and entertainment.For an excellent organisation of an infographic, Midway's [27] ten principles are practical.Te principles include prioritising information over design, using suitable software, choosing appropriate geometries, using colour strategically, incorporating uncertainty, and employing small multiples for comparisons.For clarity, a combination of simple visuals with detailed captions is signifcant.An external opinion for feedback on the created infographics is a valuable tool for assessing content efciency.Tese principles guide the creation of impactful visuals that convey insights accurately and memorably.
Martin et al. [22] compared reader preference and delayed information retention between infographic article summaries and traditional text-only research abstracts.Participants preferred infographics with lower cognitive load for reader preference.Many evaluations based on eye tracking have been used to evaluate whether infographics interest readers more.Te parameters include total fxation duration (TFD), which measures the reader's interest within an area where the cognitive efort by the reader is measured [34].Another parameter measure was gaze duration (GD), which represents the reader's ability to grasp concepts.A more extended gaze indicates a longer time to understand the concept [35].If images or diagrams are used coherently, viewers fnd it easier to grasp the matter than reading through the exact content text [36].

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Te Scientifc World Journal Among the types of studies related to graphical representation, the interrelationship between visuospatial working memory (VSWM), verbal working memory (VWM), and executive functioning (EF) has been studied by many authors.Of the three, the VSWM was observed to be more memory-retentive and had more comprehension in readers [37,38].Te basics behind the reason graphics are more retentive and accessible to grasp are based on the theory of decreasing cognitive load.Te cognitive load can be reduced by decreasing the intrinsic, extraneous, and germane load.Intrinsic is related to the complexity of the topic, extraneous refers to external factors that distract the learning process, and germane load indicates the mental load expended to understand the topic [39].Te reason that graphics are processed better is that the brain processes information through a verbal channel and a nonverbal channel.Hence, the brain stores information dually, so retention regarding the topic will be better for the reader.Graphic posts need to be to the point to avoid extraneous load [40].
Te advantages of infographics include pandemic situation education [41] and advertisements on social media for more coverage by retweeting or reposting [42][43][44][45].Many medical conferences are presented to attendees in the infographic method [46][47][48].Many design programs, such as Piktochart and Visual.ly,are available to make graphic abstracts [49].It is informative for patient education and counselling [50].Infographics can also be used as an experimental tool in researching students' cognitive psychology [51].
Graphical abstracts added to the abstract were found to be more liked by readers, as many authors have reported that graphical abstracts had more usage than abstracts without graphics [52].Graphical abstracts increased readers' attention to the manuscript [42,52,53].Research of randomised controlled trials using graphic abstracts increased the chance of readability of that specifc article three times more .In educating students, Providenza et al. reported that student satisfaction and understanding were enhanced [3].When the theory classes are supported by visual media, the comprehension of the subject is more than the explanation of the theory alone .Podcasts with audio mediums supplemented by video are also used for medical education and research dissemination [48].Collaborative platforms such as Google Drive or Dropbox can be used to share infographics within research teams or with collaborators for feedback and refnement .Email newsletters are another means to distribute infographics to a targeted list of subscribers.A study was done on the characteristics required for good infographics.Based on a multi-method approach, which included eye tracking, memorability, and user perception, the authors categorised the infographic as good, average, and poor.Te infographics are also helpful in research dissemination and medical education on social media.
Te tools for creating infographics commonly employed are PowerPoint and Google Slides.Tese tools outline the content by defning the aim, the main message (should contain only critical information), and the type of audience.Te abstract should contain the process, progress, and statistics, and the content should encourage the reader to act.Te conclusion should carry a take-home message.Te steps in creating graphics are content, layout, platform, colour, and feedback [55].

Signifcance of the Study.
Tis study is signifcant because it addresses the gap between the rapidly growing volume of medical data and the need for efective communication, which continues to generate an exponential volume of data and insights.Infographics ofer a dynamic solution capable of rendering intricate medical concepts understandable to a broader audience, including policymakers, patients, and the public.Te public is often nonspecialist, audiences that stand to beneft from its fndings.
Tis study highlights the importance of using infographics and graphical abstracts for user engagement, retention, and understanding.Te fndings help us understand the existing use of infographics by health professionals.Te insights gained here could catalyse a shift in how medical researchers approach knowledge dissemination, encouraging the integration of innovative visualisation techniques to amplify the impact of their fndings.Furthermore, this research presents an opportunity to shed light on the most efective platforms and channels for disseminating infographics in the medical domain.By uncovering the preferred modes of information delivery among medical professionals, this study has the potential to inform strategic decisions for research communication, facilitating a more efective reach to target audiences.

Methods
Te objectives of this study are as follows: (i) Assessing familiarity with infographic design and data visualisation principles (ii) Evaluating the efectiveness of infographics for research dissemination (iii) Examining tools and practices for creating infographics in research dissemination (iv) Identifying the data types most suitable for infographic presentation (v) Determining the primary platforms or channels for sharing infographics in research dissemination

Data
Collection.E-mail addresses were obtained from their published articles.Data were collected using an online survey distributed to potential participants through professional networks and research institutions.Te survey comprised a refned questionnaire that explored respondents' familiarity with infographic design, perceptions of infographic efectiveness, favoured tools for crafting infographics, data types deemed suitable for infographic presentation, and preferred platforms for disseminating infographics.
Te survey commenced with providing voluntary consent to participants, outlining the study's objectives, their rights, and the intended use of data.Demographic details such as gender, age, professional experience, and geographic location were gathered to establish a comprehensive profle of the respondents.

Data Analysis.
Descriptive statistics analysed respondents' demographic characteristics and familiarity with infographic design and data visualisation principles.Mean, standard deviation, t values, and p values were computed to assess respondents' perceptions of diferent aspects of infographic design.Te percentages of responses were calculated for aims, metrics, factors, tools, and channels related to infographics.

Ethical Considerations.
Ethical approval was obtained from the relevant institutional review board to ensure participant consent and data protection.Participation in the survey was voluntary, and respondents' anonymity and confdentiality were maintained throughout the study.Te collected data were securely stored and used solely for research purposes.

Results
Table 1 shows the demographic details of the study respondents.Te survey included 339 medical professionals, with a majority being male (58.7%).Most respondents were aged between 35 and 54 years (67.3%),indicating midcareer professionals.Te participants had substantial experience, with 66.9% having over 10 years in their feld.Geographically, the survey was diverse, with a signifcant representation from Asia (43.4%), followed by Europe (18%) and Africa (14.4%).North and South America contributed 7.4% and 12.7% of respondents, respectively, while Oceania had 4.1%.Tese data refect a well-experienced, internationally diverse group, predominantly from Asia, and highlight a gender imbalance favouring male respondents.Table 2 assesses respondents' familiarity with infographic design and data visualisation principles.Participants rated various aspects on a scale from 1 (low familiarity) to 5 (high familiarity).Te mean scores and standard deviations (SDs) indicate respondents' perceptions.Notably, respondents found conveying messages and storytelling through data visualisation (mean � 3.98) and techniques for visualising numerical data (mean � 3.72) areas of higher familiarity.Conversely, highlighting patterns, trends, and relationships in data (mean � 2.94) received a lower familiarity rating.Statistical analysis showed no signifcant differences (p > 0.05) in respondents' familiarity with the assessed principles.
Table 4 outlines the methods and metrics used to evaluate the efcacy of infographics in research dissemination based on responses from 339 participants.Te assessment approaches include user feedback (71.1%), social media engagement metrics (63.1%), website analytics (53.4%), survey responses from the target audience (54%), time spent interacting with the infographic (48.7%), number of citations or references in academic works (58.7%), e-mail or direct message responses (29.8%), conversion rates for desired actions (84.7%), comparison against other 4 Te Scientifc World Journal Table 5 outlines the key elements for successful research infographic dissemination based on responses from 339 participants.Tese factors are vital for efective communication.Participants identifed the following factors as crucial: clear and concise content (97.3%), engaging visuals and graphics (93.2%), efective data visualisation techniques (81.1%), appropriate colour schemes and fonts (79.6%), incorporation of relevant charts, graphs, or diagrams (87%), attention to design principles and aesthetics (44%), alignment with the target audience's preferences and needs (46.9%), proper use of hierarchy and visual organisation to guide attention (57.5%), consistent and cohesive visual style (42.5%), and incorporation of storytelling elements for relatability and memorability (93.8%).Tese fndings underscore the signifcance of a balanced integration of design and content factors to ensure impactful research infographic dissemination.Te poor alignment of the observation with audience needs could have been due to being unable to extract key fndings, assuming that the audience is already aware, misinterpretation, inadequate contextualization, lack of interaction, unappealing design, or ignoring audience preferences.Feedback from the intended audience during the pilot study can avoid these problems.

Discussion
In our study, the data indicated familiarity with infographics among medical professionals, and all agreed that infographics are the most efective in comprehension.However, when it came to using infographics practically, most needed more familiarity.On a scale of 1 to 5, the maximum familiarity of 3.98 agreed that messages with data visualisation were read more.Te lowest score of 2.94 was that they needed more familiarity with highlighting patterns, trends, and relationships in data through visualisation.Te majority also needed to gain more familiarity, 3.04, in knowledge of Hence, the above data confrm that trained designers should be included in the team to create infographics.Te infographics can be perfected by an expert review team, including medical professionals and patients, to evaluate if the information conveyed is the same as the intended information [57].
Regarding the efectiveness of infographics in research dissemination, 95.9% agreed that the main aim of using graphics is to simplify complex information, followed by enhanced research fndings.Respondents consider the infographics to be a quick overview of data highlighting critical insights and trends (90%).Only 74-76% agreed that infographics present data compellingly and with good retainability for data-driven decision making.All agreed that data accessibility needs to be improved for a broader audience.Te most common form of infographic research dissemination is for evaluations, to take desired actions, feedback, social media engagement, website analytics, and survey responses from the audience.Te lowest response, 26.3%, was for comparing infographic performance against other research dissemination methods.Besides the above uses, infographics are equally valuable in teaching students [58].Various medical journals have graphical abstracts that enable the reader to scan recent research articles, provide more readability, and provide signifcant points for critical decision making [59].
Among the tools used to create infographics, PowerPoint was the most used tool, 72.3%, followed by Google Slides, Microsoft Word, Canva, Adobe Illustrator, Piktochart, Excel, and Adobe Photoshop.Adobe InDesign, Venngage, Visme, Infogram, and Snappa were the less frequently used tools.Digital tools used by students are also termed mind tools.Digital tools such as Piktochart need semiautomation as authors can select from various templates available.Mastering digital tools is easy, as most digital tools assist with tutorial videos [60].
Among medical professionals, the most familiar data shared by infographics are clinical trial results from 87%, followed by medical imaging data from 78.2%.Te other data are statistical data at 73.5%, geographical data at 69.9%, and drug and treatment comparison at 58.4%.Te rest of the data shared below 50%, as per our fndings, were healthcare cost and expenditure, epidemiological data, and time series data.Infographics have been successfully used in libraries,

Limitations of the Study.
Te data collected from our observations were the result of participants' self-reporting and are not supplemented with any measure of efectiveness or data about how the recipients of the research knowledge/ infographics viewed the material, the style of presentation, and how it impacted their knowledge or practice.Te only method of evaluation was the answers to the questionnaire.Tis study implies a linear dissemination process and requires a more dynamic knowledge translation and dissemination.Infographics are likely one tool in various methods for translating knowledge into practice and policy.

Conclusion
Tis cross-sectional study among medical professionals revealed familiarity with infographic design and data visualisation principles.Tey recognise the efectiveness of infographics in achieving multiple aims, including increasing engagement, simplifying complex information, enhancing visual appeal, and improving accessibility.Respondents also identifed clear and concise content, engaging visuals, and efective data visualisation techniques essential for successful research infographic dissemination.In terms of tools and practices, the research unveiled a diverse array of software and tools used by medical professionals for creating infographics, including popular options such as PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, Canva, and Microsoft Word.Tis diversity highlights the fexibility and adaptability of researchers in choosing the tools that best suit their needs.
Regarding data types suitable for infographic presentation, the study found that medical professionals consider a wide range of data types, including statistical data, medical imaging data, clinical trial results, and more, suitable for presentation in infographics.Tis suggests that infographics can efectively convey several types of medical research information.In the realm of dissemination, the study identifed many platforms and channels medical professionals use to share infographics.Social media, science communication platforms, and institutional websites emerged as prominent choices, refecting the importance of online and digital channels in modern research communication.
Future research should include the evaluation of evidence-based literature and how many infographics were used to convey information.Te wider practice of using infographics, familiarity with infographics, preferences for data types, and dissemination practices will be evaluated.Additionally, longitudinal studies could assess the evolving trends and adoption rates of infographics in medical research dissemination over time.Moreover, investigating the impact of infographics on patient education, healthcare decision making, and research translation into practice could provide valuable insights into the real-world implications of using infographics in the medical feld.

Table 1 :
Demographic and professional characteristics of survey respondents.

Table 2 :
Assessing familiarity with infographic design and data visualisation principles.

Table 3 :
Efectiveness of infographics in research dissemination: aims and outcomes.

Table 4 :
Evaluating the efcacy of infographics in research dissemination: metrics and assessment methods.

Table 6 :
Examining tools and practices for creating infographics in research dissemination.

Table 7 :
Identifying the data types suitable for infographic presentation.

Table 5 :
Key elements for successful dissemination of research infographics: design and content factors.ResearchGate and Academia.edu,were observed to be 87.9%.Te other platforms to share research data were conferences, poster presentations, websites, research blogs, slide-sharing platforms, and research collaboration platforms.Additionally, reference management tools such as Mendeley and Zotero played a signifcant role in organizing and sharing research fndings.Online repositories such as Figshare, Zenodo, Prospero, and Cochrane were reliable platforms.Video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook are also platforms that the majority use to share knowledge in visual form.