Traber Davis Giardina|Jessica Baldwin|Daniel Nyström|Dean F. Sittig|Hardeep Singh
Patient perceptions of receiving test results via online portals: a mixed-methods study
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center|Center for Innovation|Baylor College of Medicine|Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center|Center for Innovation|Baylor College of Medicine|VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System|University of Utah|Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center|Center for Innovation|Baylor College of Medicine
abstract objective online portals provide patients access test results unknown patients use tools manage results information available promote understanding conducted mixedmethods study explore patients experiences preferences accessing test results via portals materials methods conducted 95 interviews 13 semistructured 82 structured adults viewed test result portal april 2015 september 2016 4 large outpatient clinics houston texas semistructured interviews coded using content analysis transformed quantitative data integrated structured interview data descriptive statistics used summarize structured data results nearly twothirds 63 receive explanatory information test result interpretation time received result 46 conducted online searches information result patients received abnormal result likely experience negative emotions 56 vs 21 p 003 likely call physician 44 vs 15 p 002 compared received normal results discussion study findings suggest online portals currently designed present test results patients meaningful way patients experienced negative emotions often abnormal results sometimes even normal results simply providing access via portals insufficient additional strategies needed help patients interpret manage online test results conclusion given absence national guidance findings could help strengthen policy practice area inform innovations promote patient understanding test results