Interactive Machine Learning Interfaces for Disease Risk Prediction: Effects on Risk Perception and Behaviour

Machine learning risk models are increasingly being used in patient-facing health tools, but it remains unclear how well users understand the information these systems present. In this work, we study how people interpret an interactive Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) risk interface and whether interacting with it influences their attitudes toward behavioural change. Through an exploratory mixed-methods study with 15 participants, we compare participants’ perceived understanding with their actual understanding and identify key themes from qualitative interviews. We find that participants often understood the interface better than they initially believed, but still faced important barriers related to unclear terminology, ambiguous risk framing, and limited explanations of model inputs. Finally, we propose relevant design guidelines and discuss broader issues surrounding trust and fairness. Our findings highlight the importance of intuitive visual design, familiar presentation, and clear explanations in patient-facing ML interfaces.