Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: CONTEXT.—: Patients can now immediately review pathology reports via online health portals. OBJECTIVE.—: To better characterize patient perceptions of pathology report helpfulness and preferences for access of pathology reports via a patient portal. DESIGN.—: Semistructured interviews were conducted with oncology patients with breast, endocrine, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and thoracic malignancies. Patient demographic information, cancer type, question responses, and thematically grouped comments were statistically analyzed. RESULTS.—: Among 230 patients, there was equal sex distribution (116 of 230, 50.4% female; 114 of 230, 49.6% male). Patients who viewed or had a support member view their reports in the portal (172 of 230; 74.8%) differed from those who did not (58 of 230; 25.2%) only in perception of helpfulness (P < .001) of the report. Difficulty understanding medical terminology was the most frequently cited challenge among both those who found the reports helpful (30 of 160; 18.75%) and not helpful (31 of 46; 67.4%). Most patients (196 of 230; 85.2%) preferred immediate release of results, even if the news was bad, whereas some (34 of 230; 14.7%) would opt out of immediate release for fear of misunderstanding (11 of 34; 32.4%) or receiving distressing information from reading the report (23 of 34; 67.6%). CONCLUSIONS.—: Options for portal flexibility (ie, patient choice of opting for immediate release of some, but not all, results), patient-centered pathology reports, educational materials, clinician preparation of patients, and tailored patient support are strategies that can help more patients benefit from reviewing pathology report information.
Authors: Amber Y. Bo, Yee Chung Cheng, Ben George, Deepak Kilari, Jonathan R. Thompson, Julie M. Jorns
Language: English
Subfield: General Health Professions
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4405818807