Wendy Nelson|Valerie F. Reyna|Angela Fagerlin|Isaac M. Lipkus|Ellen Peters
Clinical Implications of Numeracy: Theory and Practice
National Cancer Institute|National Cancer Institute|Cornell University|Ann Arbor VA Medical Center|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Decision Sciences (United States)|Duke University|University of Oregon|Decision Research
low numeracy pervasive constrains informed patient choice reduces medication compliance limits access treatments impairs risk communication affects medical outcomes therefore incumbent upon providers minimize adverse effectswe provide overview research health numeracy discuss implications clinical contextslow numeracy cannot reliably inferred basis patients education intelligence observable characteristics objective subjective assessments numeracy available short forms could used tailor health communication low scorers assessments subject cognitive biases irrelevant cues eg mood sharper temporal discounting prevention leading causes death eg cancer cardiovascular disease depends taking action prevent serious consequences later low numeracy likely require explanation risk engage prevention behaviors visual displays used make numerical relations transparent different types displays different effects eg greater risk avoidance ironically superior quantitative processing seems achieved focusing qualitative gist affective meaning important implications empowering patients take advantage evidence evidencebased medicine