Statistical Numeracy for Health A Cross-cultural Comparison With Probabilistic National Samples
Statistical Numeracy for Health A Cross-cultural Comparison With Probabilistic National Samples
复制标题
DOI：
10.1001/archinternmed.2009.481
复制
发表时间：
2010-03-08
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
Garcia-Retamero, Rocio
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Galesic, Mirta;Garcia-Retamero, Rocio
背景：统计学计算对于了解与健康相关的风险和做出明智的医疗决策至关重要。然而，这一概念还没有用概率国家样本进行研究，也没有进行跨文化比较。我们试图(1)调查美国和德国两个不同教育和医疗制度的国家在统计计算水平上的差异；(2)研究统计计算与年龄、性别和教育等人口学特征之间的关系；(3)测试统计计算的主观测量是否是客观测量的有效指标。方法：在2008年7月和8月对德国和美国进行的一项具有代表性的概率国家样本调查中，我们提出了测试客观和主观统计计算的问题。结果：德国参与者的计算技能高于美国参与者。客观算术题平均答对率分别为68.5%(SE，1.1%)和64.5%(SE，1.3%)。对计算能力的主观估计是客观测量的一个很好的指标。在美国，受教育程度较低和较高的人在算术技能上存在很大差距。结论：医生应该意识到，许多患者可能并不理解与做出知情决定相关的所有信息。幸运的是，他们可以识别这样的患者，并使用非数字显示格式，如图形显示和类比，来交流重要的统计信息。
Background: Statistical numeracy is essential for understanding health-related risks and making informed medical decisions. However, this concept has not been investigated with probabilistic national samples or compared cross-culturally. We sought ( 1) to investigate differences in the level of statistical numeracy between 2 countries with different educational and medical systems-the United States and Germany; ( 2) to study the relationship between statistical numeracy and demographic characteristics such as age, sex, and education; and ( 3) to test whether a subjective measure of numeracy is a valid indicator of objective measures.Methods: In a survey of probabilistic, representative national samples in Germany and the United States, conducted in July and August 2008, we asked questions testing objective and subjective statistical numeracy.Results: German participants had higher numeracy skills than did US participants. On average, 68.5% (SE, 1.1%) and 64.5% (SE, 1.3%), respectively, of items testing objective numeracy were answered correctly. Subjective estimates of numeracy were a good indicator of the objective measures. There is a large gap in numeracy skills between persons with lower and higher educational levels, particularly in the United States.Conclusions: Physicians should be aware that many patients may not understand all information relevant to making an informed decision. Fortunately, they can identify such patients and use nonnumerical presentation formats, such as graphical displays and analogies, to communicate important statistical information.