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Understanding the role of numeracy in health: proposed theoretical framework and practical insights.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lipkus, IM; Peters, E
Published in: Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education
December 2009

Numeracy-that is, how facile people are with mathematical concepts and their applications-is gaining importance in medical decision making and risk communication. This article proposes six critical functions of health numeracy. These functions are integrated into a theoretical framework on health numeracy that has implications for risk communication and medical decision-making processes. The authors examine practical underpinnings for targeted interventions aimed at improving such processes as a function of health numeracy. They hope that the proposed functions and theoretical framework will spur more research to determine how an understanding of health numeracy can lead to more effective communication and decision outcomes.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education

DOI

EISSN

1552-6127

ISSN

1090-1981

Publication Date

December 2009

Volume

36

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1065 / 1081

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Public Health
  • Patient Participation
  • Mathematics
  • Humans
  • Health Literacy
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Education
  • Health Behavior
  • Decision Making
 

Citation

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Lipkus, I. M., & Peters, E. (2009). Understanding the role of numeracy in health: proposed theoretical framework and practical insights. Health Education & Behavior : The Official Publication of the Society for Public Health Education, 36(6), 1065–1081. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198109341533
Lipkus, Isaac M., and Ellen Peters. “Understanding the role of numeracy in health: proposed theoretical framework and practical insights.Health Education & Behavior : The Official Publication of the Society for Public Health Education 36, no. 6 (December 2009): 1065–81. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198109341533.
Lipkus IM, Peters E. Understanding the role of numeracy in health: proposed theoretical framework and practical insights. Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education. 2009 Dec;36(6):1065–81.
Lipkus, Isaac M., and Ellen Peters. “Understanding the role of numeracy in health: proposed theoretical framework and practical insights.Health Education & Behavior : The Official Publication of the Society for Public Health Education, vol. 36, no. 6, Dec. 2009, pp. 1065–81. Epmc, doi:10.1177/1090198109341533.
Lipkus IM, Peters E. Understanding the role of numeracy in health: proposed theoretical framework and practical insights. Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education. 2009 Dec;36(6):1065–1081.
Journal cover image

Published In

Health education & behavior : the official publication of the Society for Public Health Education

DOI

EISSN

1552-6127

ISSN

1090-1981

Publication Date

December 2009

Volume

36

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1065 / 1081

Related Subject Headings

  • Risk Factors
  • Public Health
  • Patient Participation
  • Mathematics
  • Humans
  • Health Literacy
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Education
  • Health Behavior
  • Decision Making