Most patients view their test results before their doctor, with some reporting low comprehension
You get a message that a test result is available in your online patient portal. Do you look at it right away, or do you wait to hear from your health care provider?
A study led by researchers at NYU School of Global Public Health, published in JAMA Network Open, reveals that the majority of patients view their test results before discussing them with their doctors. According to the findings, 68.6% of adults with access to their electronic medical records and test results in the past year looked at their results first.
This trend varies among different demographics, with older adults, females, and those with higher incomes, multiple chronic health conditions, greater digital literacy, and increased use of health-related social media more likely to view their results immediately.
The comprehension of test results also differs among those who view them before speaking with their healthcare providers. A small percentage (6.6%) reported having a poor understanding of their results, while 26.8% understood them fairly well, 31.7% understood them well, and 34.9% understood them very well. Those who had difficulty comprehending their test results were more likely to be from the Midwest or South and had experienced medical discrimination.
In contrast, individuals with higher digital literacy and better patient-centered communication—such as feeling that healthcare professionals explained things in a way they could understand and were involved in decision-making—had better comprehension of their test results.
The study suggests that while the 21st Century Cures Act has improved patient access to test results, there is still room for improvement in how health information is presented to patients. Health systems and online patient portal developers should consider innovative methods to enhance communication, such as using AI to simplify test results in plain language and provide easy ways for patients to ask follow-up questions.
Improving patient-centered communication may help bridge the comprehension gap observed among patients who view their results before consulting their healthcare providers.
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