Understanding Probability in Children

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To make medical decisions involving pros and cons, one also has to understand probability and percentages. This is a preliminary study to evaluate the ability of children to understand probability and percentages.

Detailed Description
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The concept of patients making decisions with respect to their health care is well accepted in adult medicine but, the value and importance of decision making in the care of children is not recognized. The major objection raised against allowing children to express their opinions concerning outcomes is that children do not understand probability. One way of assessing children's ability to understand probability is to test their mathematical knowledge using tests focused on probability and percentage. We have designed a set of questionnaires with 10 questions each, taken from the US Department of Education's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). They are divided into 3 different groups (4th, 8th, and 12th grade), based on grade-level. We have also obtained the average percentage of correct-incorrect answers given to these questions by students nationwide, and the scoring system used to assess the student's proficiency level. In this preliminary study we intend to present this set of 10 mathematical questions to children and to one of their parents.

Official Title
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Evaluation of the Understanding of Probability in Children

Conditions
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Understanding Probability

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Males or females ages 11 to 18 years. Spoken and written English as primary language of both parents and children. Children scheduled to receive anesthesia. Parental/guardian permission (informed consent) and if appropriate, child assent. Exclusion Criteria: Children with known mental retardation, of any nature. Children who attend schools for children with special needs.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 11 Years
Maximum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| 1<br>children between 11 and 13 years of age | |
| 2<br>children between 14 to 15 years of age | |
| 3<br>children between 16 and 18 years of age | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| To compare the percentage of children who answer correctly to a set of mathematical questions to verify the ability of children to understand probability and percentages. The results will be compared to those obtained in children nationwide in 2003. |  | During pre-operative visit. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The secondary objective is to compare the responses between children and parent. |  | During the pre-operative visit. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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statistics, probability