Background: This is the first known investigation to identify specific patient characteristics and the relationship to their understanding of laboratory test results.
Science Received 7.26.07 | Revisions Received 9.5.07 | Accepted 9.13.07
Communicating and Understanding Laboratory Test Results: What Matters? Joan L. Boyd, PhD, MT(ASCP),1 John M. Hazy, PhD,2 Salvatore A. Sanders, PhD1 ( 1Department of Health Professions and 2Department of Criminal Justice, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH) DOI: 10.1309/UF462LE92GGRVB7W
Abstract Background: This is the first known investigation to identify specific patient characteristics and the relationship to their understanding of laboratory test results. The study examined patient characteristics influencing their level of understanding of
laboratory test results reported to them by physicians or health care professionals.
Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to 143 patients. Results: The authors’ findings suggest that patients want information on and an understanding of their laboratory results.
Research regarding a patient’s understanding of laboratory test results, in relation to his or her health status is limited. Evidence suggests that communication resulting in information exchange and mutual understanding between physicians and patients results in important treatment decisions during consultation and the physical examination.1-3 During subsequent visits, laboratory results are reported to the patient and appropriate treatment is discussed that may promote better compliance and patient satisfaction with health care if good relationships exist.2,3 The laboratory plays a vital role in patient care, providing important data to physicians that allows them to establish and confirm a diagnosis, evaluate treatment, and, to other disciplines such as nursing, enhance their compliance with laboratory requests.4,5 Because laboratory data ultimately serves patients to promote their health and welfare, they should have some knowledge about the laboratory procedures.4 Studies have shown, however, that patients may not understand the information from their physicians’ reports or how this information relates to their condition. Misunderstanding of physician communications may result from interaction between individuals in unequal positions,6 differences in patient perception of physician communications,7 language differences,8 differences among cultural or ethnic groups,3 and expectations of the patients and the physicians.8 Various studies have described important factors regarding mutual understanding to enhance and balance effective communications.2,9,10 These factors, however, have not been linked to patient understanding of laboratory test results. The purpose of this study was to examine patient characteristics that may influence their understanding regarding their laboratory test results as reported to them by physicians and health care professionals. The study was conducted to determine demographics and to test the following hypotheses: 1) certain patient characteristics matter when assessing their perceived understanding of laboratory test results; and 2) patients who understand the relationship between their condition and the laboratory test results are more likely to report satisfaction with the health care system. Methods A survey designed by the authors was used to gather information on patient understanding of laboratory results. Questionnaires 680
LABMEDICINE 䊏 Volume 38 Number 11 䊏 November 2007
Demographic variables and who explained the results to the patients did not significantly influence the findings. Conclusion: Patients reported that understanding the purpose of their tests and their relationships to their conditions would increase their satisfaction with the health care system.
were distributed to 143 patients who had previous laboratory work done at 3 different laboratory sites in the Midwest: an outpatient laboratory located in a 267-bed hospital in a city with a population of 20,000 (n=49), an outpatient plasma donation center located in a city with a population of 60,000 (n=60), and a rehabilitation-based, long-term care facility located in a suburban area with a population of 20,000 (n=34). The sampling method was purposive and convenient. Graduate and undergraduate laboratory students trained by the lead author distributed surveys to patients who had previous laboratory work completed and had the results reported to them. The patients completed the survey anonymously. Instrument The questionnaire consisted of 17 closed-ended questions about the patients’ understanding of their most recent laboratory results, their relationship to the person who explained the results to them, and their demographic characteristics (Appendix 1). Data Analysis Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 15.1 and ranged from simple descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations to multiple regression using ordinary least squares. Results Participants in this investigation were diverse as noted in Table 1. Their median age was between 41 and 45, nearly 10 were 61 years or older, almost 60% were African Americans, Hispanic, Asian, or a member of some other minority group, and slightly more than half (55%) resided in the inner-city. When comparing those patients who completely understood their test results with those who did not, demographic characteristics were not important, contrary to the authors’ first hypothesis. There were no statistically significant differences in understanding of test results using any of the 7 demographic items shown in Table 1 at the P
