Description
Introduction:Historically, blood test results have been viewed by clinicians, with patients often receiving only a brief summary (if any). However, since 1st November 2023, General Practices (GPs) in England have been contractually obliged to provide all adult patients with prospective access to their primary care electronic health record (EHR) via online services such as the National Health Service (NHS) ‘App’. This includes access to test results for investigations requested in primary care, and some hospital results.
Objective:
We report on a programme of work aimed at: 1) ascertaining patients, carers, and primary care staff views and experiences of patients being able to access their blood test results online, 2) identifying benefits and drawbacks of online access to results, and 3) developing improvements to clinical practice that will enhance patients’ experiences of accessing their test results and mitigate potential drawbacks for staff.
Methods:
Following extensive patient and public involvement and engagement work, across 4 separate studies, we conducted interviews and focus groups with 53 patients and carers, and 43 members of primary care staff in England. We also conducted a survey of 400 GPs working in England.
Results:
Enabling online access to blood test results has both advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include convenience, patient empowerment, and potential reductions in GP workload (fewer patients calling to request their results). Disadvantages include causing patients distress or confusion, widening health inequalities, and increases to GP workload (more patients calling to discuss their results). Solutions included: changes to software systems (e.g. facilitating clinician comments, or improved presentation of results to patients), training for clinicians, and building algorithms that enable patients to interact with test results in a more meaningful way.
Conclusion:
Enabling online access to test results presents both opportunities and challenges. Whilst patients generally prefer being able to see their results online, they are conflicted about whether this should be before or after a clinician review. Primary care staff are generally supportive of patients being able to access their results online, and can see the potential for this to reduce workload, but are also concerned the opposite may occur, especially if systems are not in place to ensure patients can adequately understand the implications of their results. Algorithms that enable patients to interact with their blood test results (e.g. to explore how they might reduce their risk of developing certain conditions though behaviour change) show potential to improve public health.
| Period | 23 Sept 2024 |
|---|---|
| Event title | European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Strategic Conference: A vision to the future: value-based laboratory Medicine |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Padova, ItalyShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |