Statistical Literacy in Hand and Upper-Extremity Patients

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Literacy
• Patient Communication

Background:

• Statistical literacy is crucial for informed healthcare decisions.
• Understanding health statistics empowers patients in shared decision-making.
• Low statistical literacy can hinder effective patient-provider communication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define statistical literacy levels in upper-extremity (UE) patients.
• To investigate the association between patient demographics and statistical literacy.
• To inform communication strategies for UE patient populations.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey assessed statistical literacy using the Berlin Numeracy Test (BNT) and General Health Numeracy Test.
• Demographics and a surgical risk question were recorded.
• Statistical analysis included covariate-controlled adjusted odds ratios.

Main Results:

• 78% of UE patients scored in the bottom quartile of the BNT, with 52% answering all questions incorrectly.
• 34% answered 0 or 1/6 questions correctly on the General Health Numeracy Test.
• Patients with college degrees had higher odds of better BNT scores.

Conclusions:

• Upper-extremity patients demonstrate low overall statistical literacy.
• Healthcare providers should anticipate low statistical literacy in UE patients.
• Alternative communication formats (e.g., pictographs, frequencies) are recommended.