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Decimal numbers and safe interpretation of clinical pathology results
Michael Sinnott1, Robert Eley, Vicki Steinle
1Emergency Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, , Brisbane, Australia.
Insights
Many healthcare professionals struggle with decimal numbers, potentially leading to medical errors. Presenting pathology results as whole numbers may improve patient safety and reduce misinterpretations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Clinical Pathology
- Healthcare Numeracy
Background:
- Accurate interpretation of clinical pathology results is crucial for patient care.
- Understanding of numerical data, including decimals, is essential for healthcare professionals.
- Potential numeracy deficits among clinical staff may pose a risk to patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the comprehension of decimal numbers among medical laboratory scientists, doctors, and nurses.
- To investigate healthcare professionals' understanding of clinical concentrations and reference ranges.
- To explore preferences for presenting clinical pathology results.
Main Methods:
- A Decimal Comparison Test was administered to evaluate decimal number comprehension.
- Participants answered additional questions regarding their understanding of concentrations and reference ranges.
- Surveys explored preferences for the format of clinical pathology result presentation.
Main Results:
- 40% of the 108 participants demonstrated poor comprehension of decimal numbers.
- Significant numeracy skill gaps were identified: one-third of medical laboratory scientists, a quarter of doctors, and half of nurses.
- A majority (60%) favored presenting results as whole numbers over decimals with leading zeros.
Conclusions:
- A substantial proportion of laboratory and clinical staff exhibit numeracy issues.
- These numeracy deficits could lead to misinterpretation of clinical pathology results and contribute to medical errors.
- The findings support recommendations for presenting pathology results as whole numbers to enhance safety.
Objective:
To determine the understanding of decimal numbers by medical laboratory scientists, doctors and nurses.
Methods:
A Decimal Comparison Test determined the comprehension of decimals numbers. Additional questions sought the participants' understanding of concentrations and reference ranges, and their preferences for the presentation of clinical pathology results.
Results:
Of the 108 participants, 40% exhibited poor comprehension of decimal numbers. One-third of the medical laboratory scientists, a quarter of doctors, and half the nurses were characterised as lacking numeracy skills. The majority of participants (60%) thought it would be safer for results to be presented as whole numbers rather than as decimals with leading zeros.
Conclusions:
The number of laboratory and clinical staff who show numeracy issues that could lead to misinterpretation of clinical pathology results and contribute to medical error strongly supports recommendations that pathology results should be presented as whole numbers.
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