Communicating and Understanding Laboratory Test Results: What Matters?

Communicating laboratory test results for rheumatoid factor: what do patients and physicians want?

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore patient and physician perspectives on current laboratory test reporting practices and to elicit ideas for improvement. METHODS Two independent studies were conducted. The first solicited members of an online physician community for opinions on current laboratory test reporting practices and possible improvements. The second addressed the same topic, but s...

Bone quality: understanding what matters.

Communicating critical test results: safe practice recommendations.

BACKGROUND Massachusetts hospitals have collaborated in a patient safety initiative conducted by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Prevention of Medical Errors and the Massachusetts Hospital Association which is aimed at improving the ability to communicate critical test results in a timely and reliable way to the clinician who can take action. Solutions to this problem would address enhancin...

Variability of laboratory test results.

Variabilities of serum total cholesterol and potassium results provided to 11 medical clinics were assessed using an audit sample-split specimen design. This involved collection of 3 tubes of blood from each of 302 patients, with 1 split specimen divided into 3 audit samples: 1 was sent to the original participating laboratory, another to a commercial referral laboratory, and the third to an ac...

Understanding social role participation: what matters to people with arthritis?

OBJECTIVE To assess the importance of different social roles in the lives of people with osteoarthritis (OA), and satisfaction with time spent in roles and role performance, as well as the relationship of demographic, health, and psychological factors to role perceptions. METHODS Sixty women and 27 men (age 42-86 yrs) with hip or knee OA were recruited from rehabilitation programs and communi...