Don't panic over your medical test results: The importance of clear communication

New York (The Uttam Hindu): Medical test reports often filled with complex terminology, contribute to patients' increased anxiety, according to new research. These reports are typically written for healthcare professionals, not for patients, which makes it harder for patients to comprehend their results, ultimately heightening their concern. Cathryn Lapedis, a researcher from the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan Health, explains that standard pathology reports are designed for clinicians like surgeons or oncologists and can be difficult for patients to interpret. For example, terms like “prostatic adenocarcinoma” in a standard report could leave patients confused, whereas a patient-centred report would simply say "prostate cancer," making the diagnosis easier to understand.

A study published in JAMA explored whether a patient-centred report would improve understanding and reduce anxiety. The researchers tested 2,238 adults aged 55 to 84, who had no history of prostate cancer, by providing them with hypothetical biopsy results. Participants were asked to identify whether the report showed prostate cancer and to assess their worry levels based on the results. he findings were telling: only 39% of participants who received a standard pathology report could correctly identify the presence of cancer. In contrast, 93% of those who received the patient-centred version accurately understood the report. The study found that a person’s level of worry was more strongly linked to their perceived risk. Given these results, the researchers recommend that healthcare systems incorporate patient-centred pathology reports alongside standard ones to help patients better understand their health and reduce unnecessary anxiety.