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Health Literacy, Health Numeracy, and Trust in Doctor: Effects on Key Patient Health Outcomes

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  • Richard G. Netemeyer
  • David G. Dobolyi
  • Ahmed Abbasi
  • Gari Clifford
  • Herman Taylor

Abstract

This research examines the roles of health literacy, health numeracy, and trust in doctor on: (1) patient anxiety when consulting a doctor; (2) frequency of physician consultations; and (3) patient subjective well‐being (SWB). Our sample consisted of 4,040 adults representative of the United States in terms of age, income, and education, but equally split among White/Caucasian (50%) and Black/African American (50%) respondents. We found that functional and communicative health literacy and trust in doctor have linear and curvilinear relationships with anxiety when consulting a doctor. Health numeracy had no effect. Anxiety when consulting a doctor was associated with a lower number of physician consultations and lower SWB. We observed direct linear effects of health literacy, health numeracy, and trust in doctor on frequency of physician consultations and SWB, as well as some curvilinear effects. We found a negative relationship between health numeracy and SWB. We discuss implications of these findings for health and public policy.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard G. Netemeyer & David G. Dobolyi & Ahmed Abbasi & Gari Clifford & Herman Taylor, 2020. "Health Literacy, Health Numeracy, and Trust in Doctor: Effects on Key Patient Health Outcomes," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(1), pages 3-42, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jconsa:v:54:y:2020:i:1:p:3-42
    DOI: 10.1111/joca.12267
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    Cited by:

    1. Gary D. Sherman & Beth Vallen & Stacey R. Finkelstein & Paul M. Connell & Wendy Attaya Boland & Kristen Feemster, 2021. "When taking action means accepting responsibility: Omission bias predicts parents' reluctance to vaccinate due to greater anticipated culpability for negative side effects," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), pages 1660-1681, December.
    2. Hsuan‐Yi Chou & Xing‐Yu (Marcos) Chu & Tzu‐Chun Chen, 2022. "The healing effect of cute elements," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(2), pages 565-596, June.
    3. M. Paula Fitzgerald & Farnoush Reshadi & Matthew Sarkees, 2022. "Patient susceptibility to over‐trust: The case of off‐label prescribing," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(2), pages 849-875, June.
    4. Wanwan Zheng & Yuqing Liang & Woon Seek Lee & Youngwook Ko, 2023. "The Mediation Effect of Perceived Attitudes toward Medical Service on the Association between Public Satisfaction with the Overall Medical Service and Self-Rated Health among the General Population in," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.

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