Helen Levy|Peter A. Ubel|Amanda J. Dillard|David R. Weir|Angela Fagerlin
Health Numeracy
Sanford Health|Duke University|Grand Valley State University|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Sanford Health|Duke University|Grand Valley State University|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Sanford Health|Duke University|Grand Valley State University|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Sanford Health|Duke University|Grand Valley State University|University of Michigan–Ann Arbor|Sanford Health|Duke University|Grand Valley State University
background objective existing research concludes measures general numeracy used predict individuals ability assess health risks posit domain questions posed affects ability perform mathematical tasks raising possibility separate construct health numeracy distinct general numeracy objective determine whether older adults ability perform simple math depends domain methods communitybased participants completed 4 math questions posed 3 different domains health domain financial domain pure math domain participants 962 individuals aged 55 older representative communitydwelling us population age 54 results found respondents performed significantly worse questions posed health domain 54 correct either pure math domain 66 correct financial domain 63 correct experimental measure numeracy consisted 4 questions possible apparent effect domain specific mathematical tasks questions require conclusions results suggest health numeracy strongly related general numeracy 2 constructs may research needed different aspects general numeracy health numeracy translate actual medical decisions