Empowering Patients vs. Ensuring Accuracy

As a physician, I believe it's crucial to carefully navigate this balance between patient autonomy and the potential for confusion or anxiety. I encourage our patients to wait for a medical professional's review before delving into complex test results to ensure accurate interpretation and appropriate next steps.

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open sheds light on patient preferences when it comes to receiving medical test results. The research was conducted at four academic medical centers, surveying over 8,000 adult patients and care partners.

Key findings include:
🔹 95.7% of respondents preferred to get test results immediately via an online patient portal, even without a healthcare provider's review.
🔹 95.3% of those who received abnormal test results wanted to continue receiving them immediately.
🔹 However, 7.5% reported increased worry when getting test results before a provider's contact, with worry levels higher in those with abnormal results (16.5%).

What are your thoughts on this study? How can we strike the right balance between patient empowerment and medical expertise? Let's discuss! 💬

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