This study demonstrated the advantage of experimental testing and effectiveness of decision trees for improving public health communication.

In this online experiment, researchers tested behaviorally informed decision aids to support self-isolation. They found that using decision trees improved patients’ decisions about when self-isolation was necessary, but they still underestimated the need to self-isolate in the presence of less common COVID-19 symptoms. Using the decision aids also increased confidence about coping with self-isolation. By presenting information in infographic formats, individuals were able to better recall and comprehend how to manage self-isolation.