title: The associations between objective numeracy and colorectal cancer screening knowledge, attitudes and defensive processing in a deprived community sample.
abstract: We examined associations between numeracy and sociocognitive factors associated with colorectal cancer screening uptake (n = 964). Nearly half (45.7%) of the respondents incorrectly answered a numeracy question (low numeracy). Low numeracy respondents were less knowledgeable about colorectal cancer (p < .001), less positive towards screening (emotional, p < .001 and practical, p = .001) and less likely to intend to participate in screening (p = .001). They also reported greater defensive processing of cancer information (p = .001). Sociocognitive factors fully mediated the relationship between numeracy and screening intention. Addressing numeracy issues may reduce inequalities in CRC screening participation, but communication strategies could be limited by the tendency process cancer information defensively.
authors.affiliation: University College London, UK Queen Mary University of London, UK Northwestern University, USA Sam.smith@qmul.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Samuel G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Lindsay C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Northwestern University, USA.
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Rosalind
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raine
authors.affiliation: University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wardle
authors.affiliation: University College London, UK.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Wagner
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D003142:Communication; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: attitudes; colorectal cancer; health communication; health literacy; numeracy; screening