Breast cancer counts: numeracy in breast cancer information on the Web.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to determine the numeracy information included in three prominent breast cancer Web sites.


METHODS
A content analysis was performed, grouping numeracy items into 15 categories. Interrater reliability was high.


RESULTS
Of the 3,206 items identified, 14.3% were numbers, 33.9% were descriptive measures (e.g., many, lower), 27.3% were statistical terms (e.g., predictive, risk), and 12.4% were temporal terms (e.g., before, always).


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest that there is an abundance of numeric information presented in breast cancer Web sites, much of which may be conceptually too advanced for the intended audience.
Ahlers-Schmidt
Carolyn R
CR
University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita, KS 67214-3199, USA. cshmidt@kumc.edu
Golbeck
Amanda L
AL
Paschal
Angelia M
AM
Zackula
Rosalee
R
Taylor
Nora T
NT
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003626:Data Display; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*