title: Physicians' communication of Down syndrome screening test results: the influence of physician numeracy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated three questions: (1) How do obstetrician-gynecologists communicate positive and negative test results? (2) When reporting screening test results, do obstetrician-gynecologists use quantitative or qualitative information? and (3) Is physician numeracy (i.e., the ability to use and understand numbers) associated with use of quantitative or qualitative information?
  
  
  METHODS
  Obstetrician-gynecologists (N = 203; 55.6% response rate) who were members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists completed a survey about their communication of Down syndrome screening test results, an Objective Numeracy Scale, and the Subjective Numeracy Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher scores on the Subjective Numeracy Scale and younger age predicted obstetrician-gynecologists' use of numbers to explain testing results. The Objective Numeracy Scale did not predict use of numbers. Gender was correlated with scores on the Subjective Numeracy Scale (r = 0.2) and the Subjective Numeracy Scale-Ability Subscale (r = 0.3), with men scoring higher than women when controlling for age. Open-ended questions revealed that communication strategies vary, with approximately one in three obstetrician-gynecologists providing numerical information, and frequency format being the commonly used numerical format.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although physicians are often overlooked in the problem of low health literacy, it is important that we continue to investigate the impact of physician numeracy on patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Washington, DC 20024, USA. banderson@acog.org
authors.forename: Britta L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Natalie A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Obrecht
authors.forename: Gretchen B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Driscoll
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D032882:Comprehension; D030881:Disclosure; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D055641:Mathematical Concepts; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires