Validating the Medical Data Interpretation Test in a Dutch population.

Patient Educ Couns · 2007

other · Level V

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To validate the Dutch translation of the Medical Data Interpretation Test. METHODS: A test-retest design with a 2-week interval was used. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC=.82), the limits-of-agreement interval (LOA=-8.96 to 2.48) and the test-retest reliability (Pearson's r=86) suggest that the Dutch translation has good reproducibility. Construct validity was tested by two hypotheses, both of which were confirmed. University participants had higher test scores than non-university participants (p=.02), and males did not score differently than females (p=.61). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the Dutch version of the Medical Data Interpretation Test is an adequate scale to assess ability to interpret medical data. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Assessing patients' numeracy skills before a counseling session will enable the counselor to adjust subsequent communication accordingly and, as such, improve the session's effectiveness.