Abstract

MUNOZ, Rocio; OKAN, Yasmina  and  GARCIA-RETAMERO, Rocio. Numeracy and health: A critical review. rev.latinoam.psicol. [online]. 2015, vol.47, n.2, pp.111-123. ISSN 0120-0534.

When we make judgments and decisions about our health, we are frequently faced with numerical information. For example, we often receive information concerning the risk of suffering an illness in terms of probabilities, percentages or fractions. However, many people have difficulties in understanding this type of information. In this paper, we present a critical review of the existing empirical evidence that documents the influence of numeracy on various aspects of the process that occurs when patients visit their doctor, focusing on perceptions of medical risks and treatment efficacy. We also outline different theoretical frameworks that have attempted to explain the impact of numeracy, highlighting some of their limitations. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of existing tools for measuring numeracy, drawing attention to the Berlin Numeracy Test. We concluded that this test can satisfactorily assess numeracy in a wide range of contexts. We also discuss a number of open questions, including the relationship between numeracy and other psychological constructs, such as intelligence or cognitive reflection.

Keywords : Numeracy; Risk perception; Medical decision making; Individual differences; Quantitative reasoning.

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