title: A Qualitative Study on Health Numeracy and Patient-Provider Communication of Laboratory Numbers in Older African Americans with HIV.
abstract: Health numeracy plays a vital role in the successful management of HIV because much HIV-related health information is expressed in quantitative terms. The purpose of our study was to explore what older African Americans with HIV (N = 20) understood about their HIV laboratory numbers and to examine communication of the numbers between patients and providers during clinic visits. The following four themes emerged: (a) HIV laboratory numbers are important to understand health status; (b) the numbers can often be confusing; (c) mutual communication between patient and provider is essential to understand the numbers; and (d) when communicating numbers, use less detail. Implications for future interventions to address health numeracy deficits in this population are discussed.
authors: C Ann
authors: CA
authors: Gakumo
authors: Jim L
authors: JL
authors: Raper
authors: Diana K
authors: DK
authors: Cerice
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Stand-Gravois
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Mugavero
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D032882:Comprehension; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D057220:Health Literacy; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: African Americans; HIV; health literacy; health numeracy; older adults; patient-provider communication