Patient-Physician Concordance for Quantitative Formats and Treatment Options and the Relationship with State Anxiety.

Patient-physician concordance about topics discussed in a clinic visit is essential for effective communication but may be difficult to achieve in cancer care. We conducted a multicenter, observational study at two Midwestern oncology clinics. A sample of 48 English-speaking or Spanish-speaking women with newly diagnosed stage 0-3 breast cancer completed surveys before and after a visit with an oncologist.

Using Differential Item Functioning to Test for Interrater Reliability in Constructed Response Items.

The purpose of this study was to investigate a new way of evaluating interrater reliability that can allow one to determine if two raters differ with respect to their rating on a polytomous rating scale or constructed response item. Specifically, differential item functioning (DIF) analyses were used to assess interrater reliability and compared with traditional interrater reliability measures. Three different procedures that can be used as measures of interrater reliability were compared: (1) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), (2) Cohen's kappa statistic, and (3) DIF statistic obtained from Poly-SIBTEST.

Communication and Shared Decision Making in the Breast Cancer Treatment Consultation: A Comparative Analysis of English- and Spanish-Speaking Patients.

. Communication in the breast cancer treatment consultation is complex. Language barriers may increase the challenge of achieving patient-centered communication and effective shared decision making.

Examining Parameter Estimation when Treating Semi-Mixed Multidimensional Constructs as Unidimensional.

In this study, parameter estimation error was examined when three dimensional tests of a semi-mixed structure were estimated unidimensionally. Since previous studies have generally focused on two-dimensional mixed structured tests or three-dimensional approximately simple structured tests, this study adds to the literature by considering the impact of fitting a unidimensional model to multidimensional data using a test structure that has not previously been considered. Test structure, interdimensional correlation, difficulty of the test, and different underlying distributions of ability were considered.

Improving Communication in Breast Cancer Treatment Consultation: Use of a Computer Test of Health Numeracy.

Communication of statistics and probability is challenging in the cancer care setting. The objectives of this study are to evaluate a novel approach to cancer communication through the use of a computer assessment of patient health numeracy. We conducted a pilot study of the Computer Adapted Test of Numeracy Understanding in Medicine Instrument (CAT-NUMi) before the cancer treatment consultation for women with stage 0-3 breast cancer.

Using a Multidimensional IRT Framework to Better Understand Differential Item Functioning (DIF): A Tale of Three DIF Detection Procedures.

The theoretical reason for the presence of differential item functioning (DIF) is that data are multidimensional and two groups of examinees differ in their underlying ability distribution for the secondary dimension(s). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine how much the secondary ability distributions must differ before DIF is detected. Two-dimensional binary data sets were simulated using a compensatory multidimensional item response theory (MIRT) model, incrementally varying the mean difference on the second dimension between reference and focal group examinees while systematically increasing the correlation between dimensions.

Tailoring Educational and Behavioral Interventions to Level of Health Literacy: A Systematic Review.

The relative value of universal compared to contingent approaches to communication and behavioral interventions for persons of low health literacy remains unknown. To examine the effectiveness of interventions that are tailored to individual health literacy level compared to nontailored interventions on health-related outcomes. Systematic review.

Utility of the injured trauma survivor screen to predict PTSD and depression during hospital admission.

Background: The brief, easily administered screen, the Injured Trauma Survivor Screen (ITSS), was created to identify trauma survivors at risk for development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.

Methods: An item pool of PTSD risk factors was created and given, along with a previously created screen, to patients admitted to two Level 1 trauma centers. The Clinician Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised were given during a 1-month follow-up.

Development and Validation of the Spanish Numeracy Understanding in Medicine Instrument.

Background: The Spanish-speaking population in the U.S. is large and growing and is known to have lower health literacy than the English-speaking population.

Development and validation of the numeracy understanding in Medicine Instrument short form.

Health numeracy can be defined as the ability to understand and use numeric information and quantitative concepts in the context of health. The authors previously reported the development of the Numeracy Understanding in Medicine Instrument (NUMi), a 20-item test developed using item response theory. The authors now report the development and validation of a short form of the NUMi.

The meaning of numbers in health: exploring health numeracy in a Mexican-American population.

Background: Health numeracy can be defined as the ability to use numeric information in the context of health. The interpretation and application of numbers in health may vary across cultural groups.

Objective: To explore the construct of health numeracy among persons who identify as Mexican American.

Evaluating existing measures of health numeracy using item response theory.

Objective: To evaluate existing measures of health numeracy using item response theory (IRT).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants completed assessments of health numeracy measures including the Lipkus expanded health numeracy scale (Lipkus), and the Medical Data Interpretation Test (MDIT).

Crassulacean acid metabolism in Isoetes bolanderi in high elevation oligotrophic lakes.

Isoetes bolanderi dominates the littoral flora of Siesta (elevation 2,440 m) and Ellery (2,905 m) lakes in the Sierra Nevada Range of California, USA. Both lakes are sparesly vegetated and I. bolanderi maintained aboveground oven dry weight of 30-50 m through most of the 1981 summer growing season.