The Effects of Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Survey on Comprehension and Anxiety
BackgroundWeb-based patient access to personal health information is limited but increasing in Canada and internationally. ObjectiveThis exploratory study aimed to increase understanding of how Web-based access to laboratory test results in British Columbia (Canada), which has been broad...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2015-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.jmir.org/2015/8/e191/ |
| _version_ | 1818884093079715840 |
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| author | Mák, Geneviève Smith Fowler, Heather Leaver, Chad Hagens, Simon Zelmer, Jennifer |
| author_facet | Mák, Geneviève Smith Fowler, Heather Leaver, Chad Hagens, Simon Zelmer, Jennifer |
| author_sort | Mák, Geneviève |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundWeb-based patient access to personal health information is limited but increasing in Canada and internationally.
ObjectiveThis exploratory study aimed to increase understanding of how Web-based access to laboratory test results in British Columbia (Canada), which has been broadly available since 2010, affects patients’ experiences.
MethodsIn November 2013, we surveyed adults in British Columbia who had had a laboratory test in the previous 12 months. Using a retrospective cohort design, we compared reported wait-time for results, test result comprehension, and anxiety levels of “service users” who had Web-based access to their test results (n=2047) with those of a general population panel that did not have Web-based access (n=1245).
ResultsThe vast majority of service users (83.99%, 95% CI 82.31-85.67) said they received their results within “a few days”, compared to just over a third of the comparison group (37.84%, 95% CI 34.96-40.73). Most in both groups said they understood their test results, but the rate was lower for service users than the comparison group (75.55%, 95% CI 73.58-77.49 vs 84.69%, 95% CI 82.59-86.81). There was no significant difference between groups in levels of reported anxiety after receiving test results.
ConclusionsWhile most patients who received their laboratory test results online reported little anxiety after receiving their results and were satisfied with the service, there may be opportunities to improve comprehension of results. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:44:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e4b4f2cec8f439897e940f25e8404e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:44:04Z |
| publishDate | 2015-08-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e4b4f2cec8f439897e940f25e8404e12022-12-21T20:15:24ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712015-08-01178e19110.2196/jmir.4350The Effects of Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Survey on Comprehension and AnxietyMák, GenevièveSmith Fowler, HeatherLeaver, ChadHagens, SimonZelmer, JenniferBackgroundWeb-based patient access to personal health information is limited but increasing in Canada and internationally. ObjectiveThis exploratory study aimed to increase understanding of how Web-based access to laboratory test results in British Columbia (Canada), which has been broadly available since 2010, affects patients’ experiences. MethodsIn November 2013, we surveyed adults in British Columbia who had had a laboratory test in the previous 12 months. Using a retrospective cohort design, we compared reported wait-time for results, test result comprehension, and anxiety levels of “service users” who had Web-based access to their test results (n=2047) with those of a general population panel that did not have Web-based access (n=1245). ResultsThe vast majority of service users (83.99%, 95% CI 82.31-85.67) said they received their results within “a few days”, compared to just over a third of the comparison group (37.84%, 95% CI 34.96-40.73). Most in both groups said they understood their test results, but the rate was lower for service users than the comparison group (75.55%, 95% CI 73.58-77.49 vs 84.69%, 95% CI 82.59-86.81). There was no significant difference between groups in levels of reported anxiety after receiving test results. ConclusionsWhile most patients who received their laboratory test results online reported little anxiety after receiving their results and were satisfied with the service, there may be opportunities to improve comprehension of results.http://www.jmir.org/2015/8/e191/ |
| spellingShingle | Mák, Geneviève Smith Fowler, Heather Leaver, Chad Hagens, Simon Zelmer, Jennifer The Effects of Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Survey on Comprehension and Anxiety Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | The Effects of Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Survey on Comprehension and Anxiety |
| title_full | The Effects of Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Survey on Comprehension and Anxiety |
| title_fullStr | The Effects of Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Survey on Comprehension and Anxiety |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effects of Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Survey on Comprehension and Anxiety |
| title_short | The Effects of Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Survey on Comprehension and Anxiety |
| title_sort | effects of web based patient access to laboratory results in british columbia a patient survey on comprehension and anxiety |
| url | http://www.jmir.org/2015/8/e191/ |
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