Project 175965

The Internet is increasingly used as a source of health information, with older adults representing the fastest-growing user group. Individuals search the Internet for information they use to support their decisions regarding prevention and treatment options. Unfortunately, many people do not have the literacy skills required for understanding health information. Numeracy--the ability to interpret and use numbers--is a significant aspect of health literacy and includes possessing and using quantitative knowledge and risk information required to manage one's health. However, many individuals have poor comprehension of quantitative information. To investigate older adults' health numeracy and risk comprehension of cancer information on the Internet, we will analyze cancer risk information directed to consumers, patients, and the general public. In particular, we will investigate older adults' comprehension of this Web-based information. In our studies, we will focus on colorectal cancer information. We propose the following three specific research objectives: (1) To investigate older adults' health numeracy comprehension of colorectal cancer risk information on the Internet; (2) To determine how presentation of numerical colorectal cancer risk information (text versus graphical displays) influences older adults' health numeracy and comprehension of such information; (3) To characterize the cognitive processes underlying comprehension of cancer risk information by older adults presented in various formats (text or graphics). Our research has implications for the design of risk information involving numbers and graphics by determining the factors that affect comprehension of cancer risk information and the knowledge and reasoning processes underlying decision making under risk.