Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30232115›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2018

Let's talk numbers: a qualitative study of community-dwelling US adults to understand the role of numeracy in the management of heart failure.

Madeline R Sterling, Ariel F Silva, Laura Robbins, Savira K Dargar, Marilyn M Schapira, Monika M Safford

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Madeline R SterlingDivision of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, New York, USA.
Ariel F SilvaDivision of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, New York, USA.
Laura RobbinsEducation and Academic Affairs, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City, New York, USA.
Savira K DargarDivision of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, New York, USA.
Marilyn M SchapiraDepartment of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Monika M SaffordDivision of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York City, New York, USA.

Funding

Weill Cornell Training Program in Health Services ResearchT32HS000066 · AHRQ · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · PI CHARLSON, MARY E · 1994 to 2018
$4.7M
Complementary and Integrative Medicine Training ProgramT32AT001161 · NCCIH · WEILL MEDICAL COLL OF CORNELL UNIV · PI CHARLSON, MARY E · 2004 to 2008
$721k
AHRQ HHS T32 HS000066NCCIH NIH HHS T32 AT001161
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo examine the perspectives of adults with heart failure (HF) about numerical concepts integral to HF self-care.

settingThis qualitative study took place at an urban academic primary care practice.

participantsThirty men and women aged 47-89 years with a history of HF were recruited to participate. Eligibility criteria included: a history of HF (≥1 year), seen at the clinic within the last year, and a HF hospitalisation within the last 6 months. Non-English speakers and those with severe cognitive impairment were excluded.

methodsIn-depth semistructured interviews were conducted. Participants were interviewed about numeracy across three domains of HF self-care: (1) monitoring weight,(2) maintaining a diet low in salt and (3) monitoring blood pressure. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed using grounded theory and word cloud techniques.

resultsFive key themes reflecting participants' attitudes towards numerical concepts pertaining to weight, diet and blood pressure were identified: (1) Communication between healthcare providers and patients is a complex, multistage process; (2) Patients possess a wide range of knowledge and understanding; (3) Social and caregiver support is critical for the application of numerical concepts; (4) Prior health experiences shape outlook towards numerical concepts and instructions and (5) Fear serves as a barrier and a facilitator to carrying out HF self-care tasks that involve numbers. The findings informed a theoretical framework of health numeracy in HF.

conclusionEffective communication of numerical concepts which pertain to HF self-care is highly variable. Many patients with HF lack basic understanding and numeracy skills required for adequate self-care. As such, patients rely on caregivers who may lack HF training. HF-specific training of caregivers and research that seeks to elucidate the intricacies of the patient-caregiver relationship in the context of health numeracy and HF self-care are warranted.

Indexed as

Blood Pressure Monitoring, AmbulatoryDiet TherapyHeart FailureSelf CareAgedAged, 80 and overAttitudeComprehensionFemaleGrounded TheoryHumansIndependent LivingMaleMathematicsMiddle AgedPatient PreferenceHealth CommunicationHealth NumeracyHeart FailurePrimary CareQualitative Research

Identifiers

PMID30232115
PMCPMC6150136

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.