E111: The Intellectual Domain of Risks

Risk in health care is often presented as a number—but what those numbers actually mean, and how we interpret them, is far less straightforward. With the growing influence of misinformation and the illusion of "doing your own research," algorithms exploit the way our brains are wired to process repeated information, leading to increased anxiety, misplaced focus, and eroding trust in medical expertise.

In the intellectual domain of risks, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, explore how statistics, probability, and human psychology intersect in medical decision-making. From relative versus absolute risk to concepts like "number needed to treat," the conversation reveals how easily data can be misunderstood—or unintentionally misrepresented—by media, clinicians, and even well-informed patients.