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Assessing minimal medical statistical literacy using the Quick Risk Test: a prospective observational study in Germany.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To assess minimal medical statistical literacy in medical students and senior educators using the 10-item Quick Risk Test; to assess whether deficits in statistical literacy are stable or can be reduced by training. DESIGN:Prospective observational study on the students, observational study on the university lecturers. SETTING:Charité University Medicine medical curriculum for students and a continuing medical education (CME) course at a German University for senior educators. PARTICIPANTS:169 students taking part in compulsory final-year curricular training in medical statistical literacy (63% female, median age 25 years). Sixteen professors of medicine and other senior educators attending a CME course on medical statistical literacy (44% female, age range=30-65 years). INTERVENTIONS:Students completed a 90?min training session in medical statistical literacy. No intervention for the senior educators. OUTCOME MEASURES:Primary outcome measure was the number of correct answers out of four multiple-choice alternatives per item on the Quick Risk Test. RESULTS:Final-year students answered on average half (median=50%) of the questions correctly while senior educators answered three-quarters correctly (median=75%). For comparison, chance performance is 25%. A 90?min training session for students increased the median percentage correct from 50% to 90%. 82% of participants improved their performance. CONCLUSIONS:Medical students and educators do not master all basic concepts in medical statistics. This can be quickly assessed with the Quick Risk Test. The fact that a 90?min training session on medical statistical literacy improves students' understanding from 50% to 90% indicates that the problem is not a hard-wired inability to understand statistical concepts. This gap in physicians' education has long-lasting effects; even senior medical educators could answer only 75% of the questions correctly on average. Hence, medical students and professionals should receive enhanced training in how to interpret risk-related medical statistics.

SUBMITTER: Jenny MA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6112405 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Assessing minimal medical statistical literacy using the Quick Risk Test: a prospective observational study in Germany.

Jenny Mirjam Annina MA Keller Niklas N Gigerenzer Gerd G

BMJ open 20180823 8

<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess minimal medical statistical literacy in medical students and senior educators using the 10-item Quick Risk Test; to assess whether deficits in statistical literacy are stable or can be reduced by training.<h4>Design</h4>Prospective observational study on the students, observational study on the university lecturers.<h4>Setting</h4>Charité University Medicine medical curriculum for students and a continuing medical education (CME) course at a German University for sen ...[more]

PMID: 30139896

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Project description:BackgroundThis clinical trial evaluated the performance of a newly released fast-absorbable braided synthetic suture (Novosyn® Quick) in adults and paediatric patients undergoing elective skin closures.MethodsThis was a prospective international multicentre observational study. Two centres enrolled 100 patients, of which 50 were adults (visceral surgery, France) and 50 were paediatric patients (paediatric surgery, Germany). Surgeons used a 5-point Likert scale to assess handling characteristics of the suture. Patients and professionals used the Patient-Observer-Scar-Assessment-Scale (POSAS) to rate scar quality. Adverse events were monitored until 3 months postoperatively.ResultsHandling characteristics of Novosyn® Quick were in median rated very good by both general surgeons and paediatric surgeons. Patient components of POSAS (six questions; ten-level Likert scale; best possible score six) scored in median (range) 8.5 (6-28) in the paediatric group versus 12 (6-38) in the adult group, P = 0.01. Patients` overall opinions of POSAS were similar in both groups [mean (SD), 1.86 (0.99) in the paediatric group versus 2.08 (1.35) in the adult group, P = 0.3536]. Observer component of POSAS (six parameters; ten-level numeric rating scale, best possible score six) scored comparably in both groups [median (range), 8 (6-29) in the paediatric group versus 10 (6-28) in the adult group, P = 0.1403]. Observers overall opinion of POSAS favoured the paediatric patients group [mean (SD), 1.48 (0.61) versus 1.92 (1.06) in the adult group, P = 0.0131]. Adverse events in relation to wound healing were not observed in both patient groups.ConclusionsOur findings indicate, that Novosyn® Quick is safe and reliable for skin closure in adults and paediatric patients and can be regarded as a viable alternative to Vicryl® Rapide.Trial registrationThis trial was registered prospectively with ClinicalTrials.gov under the registration number NCT02680886 on 5 February 2016. The trial was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of both study locations (France: CCTIRS N° 16-103 and CNIL:MMS/CWR/AR163920; Germany: 398/15).

Project description:PurposeStatistical literacy is the ability of a patient to apply basic statistical concepts to their health care. Understanding statistics is a critical component of shared decision making. The purpose of this investigation was to define levels of statistical literacy in an upper-extremity (UE) patient population. We aimed to determine if patient demographics would be associated with statistical literacy.MethodsAn electronic survey was administered to a consecutive series of UE patients at a single institution. We recorded baseline demographics, Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation scores, the Berlin Numeracy Test (BNT), and General Health Numeracy Test. We also included a surgical risk question, which asked: "Approximately 3% of patients who get carpal tunnel surgery develop an infection. If 100 patients get this surgery, how many would you expect to develop an infection?" A covariate-controlled adjusted odds ratio reflecting the association between each statistical literacy outcome measure and patient characteristics was reported.ResultsA total 254 surveys were administered, 148 of which were completed and included. Fifty percent of respondents had a high-school education or less. For the BNT, 78% scored in the bottom quartile, and 52% incorrectly answered all questions. For the General Health Numeracy Test, 34% answered 0 or 1/6 questions correctly. For the surgical risk question, 24% of respondents answered incorrectly. Respondents who had a college or graduate degree had 2.62 times greater odds (95% confidence interval, 1.09-6.32) of achieving a BNT score in a higher quartile than patients who did not have a college or graduate degree.ConclusionsOverall levels of statistical literacy are low for UE patients.Clinical relevanceWhen engaging in management discussions and shared decision making, UE surgeons should assume low levels of statistical literacy. Consideration of alternative formats, such as frequencies, video-based materials, and pictographs, may be warranted when discussing outcomes and risks of surgical procedures.

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Assessing minimal medical statistical literacy using the Quick Risk Test: a prospective observational study in Germany.

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Assessing minimal medical statistical literacy using the Quick Risk Test: a prospective observational study in Germany.

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