Contextualizing numeric clinical test results for gist comprehension: Implications for EHR patient portals

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Informatics
• Health Communication

Background:

• Patient portals are underutilized by older adults due to usability challenges, particularly with numerical health data.
• Effective communication of test results is crucial for older adults' health management and engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if enhanced context in patient portal messages improves older adults' understanding and response to test results.
• To compare the effectiveness of verbal, graphical, and video-enhanced formats against standard numerical displays.

Main Methods:

• Older adults evaluated fictitious patient scenarios with cholesterol/diabetes test results presented in standard (numerical table) or enhanced (verbal, graphical, video) formats.
• Measures included memory (verbatim, gist), risk perception, emotional responses, self-care attitudes/intentions, and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Verbal and video formats enhanced gist memory and message satisfaction compared to the standard format.
• The graphical format showed limited benefits.
• Responses regarding risk perception and self-care intentions were influenced by the level of risk indicated by the test results.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced context, particularly verbal and video formats, can improve older adults' comprehension of health information in patient portals.
• Tailoring communication to convey gist-based information is effective for this demographic.
• Risk level significantly impacts older adults' emotional and behavioral responses to health information.