title: Numeracy and communication with patients: they are counting on us.
abstract: Patient-centered interactive communication between physicians and patients is recommended to improve the quality of medical care. Numerical concepts are important components of such exchanges and include arithmetic and use of percentages, as well as higher level tasks like estimation, probability, problem-solving, and risk assessment--the basis of preventive medicine. Difficulty with numerical concepts may impede communication. The current evidence on prevalence, measurement, and outcomes related to numeracy is presented, along with a summary of best practices for communication of numerical information. This information is integrated into a hierarchical model of mathematical concepts and skills, which can guide clinicians toward numerical communication that is easier to use with patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. apter@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Apter
authors.forename: Michael K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Paasche-Orlow
authors.forename: Janine T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Remillard
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Elana Pearl
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Ben-Joseph
authors.forename: Rosanna M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hyde
authors.forename: Rima E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rudd
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D004522:Educational Status; D006801:Humans; D008433:Mathematics; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations