Developing a bone mineral density test result letter to send to patients: a mixed-methods study

Area of Science:

• Health Communication
• Patient Engagement
• Osteoporosis Management

Background:

• Communicating complex health information, such as bone mineral density (BMD) results, to patients is crucial for effective healthcare.
• Patient understanding and activation are key to improving bone health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and optimize a patient-friendly letter for communicating BMD results via mail.
• To enhance patient activation in bone-related healthcare through clear communication.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving a multidisciplinary team.
• Three letter versions were developed and tested on 142 adults aged 50+ across two healthcare systems.
• Structured interviews assessed patient preferences and comprehension of the different letter formats.

Main Results:

• A specific letter version was preferred by 45.2% and found easiest to understand by 44.6% of participants.
• A majority of participants desired inclusion of specific next steps for bone health improvement in the letters.
• Participant demographics included 64.1% female and 76.1% white individuals.

Conclusions:

• A mixed-methods approach successfully developed and optimized a letter for communicating complex BMD test results.
• The optimized letter has the potential to guide clinicians and researchers in communicating complex health information effectively to patients.
• Patient preference for actionable next steps highlights the importance of providing clear guidance for bone health management.