The Numeracy Understanding in Medicine Instrument: A Measure of Health Numeracy Developed Using Item Response Theory

摘要: Background: Health numeracy can be defined as the ability to understand and apply information conveyed with numbers, tables graphs, probabilities, statistics effectively communicate health care providers, take of one’s health, participate in medical decisions. Objective: To develop Numeracy Understanding Medicine Instrument (NUMi) using item response theory scaling methods. Design: A 20-item test was formed drawing from an bank questions. Items were calibrated responses 1000 participants a 2-parameter model. Construct validity assessed by comparing scores on NUMi established measures print numeric literacy, mathematic achievement, cognitive aptitude. Participants: Community clinical populations Milwaukee Chicago metropolitan areas. Results: Twenty-nine percent respondents Hispanic, 24% non-Hispanic white, 42% black. Forty-one had no more than high school education. The mean score 13.2 (s = 4.6) Cronbach 0.86. Difficulty discrimination parameters 20 items ranged –1.70 1.45 0.39 1.98, respectively. Performance strongly correlated Wide Range Achievement Test–Arithmetic (0.73, P \ 0.001), Lipkus Expanded Scale (0.69, P\0.001), Medical Data Interpretation Test (0.75, P\ Wonderlic Cognitive Ability (0.82, 0.001). moderately Short Functional Literacy (0.43, Limitations :T he found most discriminating among lower-than-average level numeracy. Conclusions applied research settings robust measure construct.