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The meaning of numbers in health: exploring health numeracy in a Mexican-American population.


ABSTRACT:

Background

Health numeracy can be defined as the ability to use numeric information in the context of health. The interpretation and application of numbers in health may vary across cultural groups.

Objective

To explore the construct of health numeracy among persons who identify as Mexican American.

Design

Qualitative focus group study. Groups were stratified by preferred language and level of education. Audio-recordings were transcribed and Spanish groups (n = 3) translated to English. An analysis was conducted using principles of grounded theory.

Participants

A purposeful sample of participants from clinical and community sites in the Milwaukee and Chicago metropolitan areas.

Main measures

A theoretical framework of health numeracy was developed based upon categories and major themes that emerged from the analysis.

Key results

Six focus groups were conducted with 50 participants. Initial agreement in coding was 59-67% with 100% reached after reconciliation by the coding team. Three major themes emerged: 1) numeracy skills are applied to a broad range of communication and decision making tasks in health, 2) affective and cognitive responses to numeric information influence use of numbers in the health setting, and 3) there exists a strong desire to understand the meaning behind numbers used in health. The findings informed a theoretical framework of health numeracy.

Conclusions

Numbers are important across a range of skills and applications in health in a sample of an urban Mexican-American population. This study expands previous work that strives to understand the application of numeric skills to medical decision making and health behaviors.

SUBMITTER: Schapira MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3138587 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

The meaning of numbers in health: exploring health numeracy in a Mexican-American population.

Schapira Marilyn M MM   Fletcher Kathlyn E KE   Ganschow Pamela S PS   Walker Cindy M CM   Tyler Bruce B   Del Pozo Sam S   Schauer Carrie C   Jacobs Elizabeth A EA  

Journal of general internal medicine 20110219 7


<h4>Background</h4>Health numeracy can be defined as the ability to use numeric information in the context of health. The interpretation and application of numbers in health may vary across cultural groups.<h4>Objective</h4>To explore the construct of health numeracy among persons who identify as Mexican American.<h4>Design</h4>Qualitative focus group study. Groups were stratified by preferred language and level of education. Audio-recordings were transcribed and Spanish groups (n = 3) translate  ...[more]

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