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Patients Who Take Home Their Surgical Pathology Specimens: A Preliminary Study.
Blake A Gibson1, Richard E Sobonya2
1Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Academic Pathology
|March 20, 2019
Summary
Patients often request surgical pathology specimens for diverse reasons, including medical interest, cultural beliefs, and personal significance. Understanding these motivations is key to providing patient-centered pathology services.
Area of Science:
- Medical Pathology
- Patient Experience Research
- Bioethics
Background:
- Patients frequently request to retain surgical pathology specimens.
- Limited research exists on patient motivations for specimen retention.
- Understanding patient needs is crucial for patient-centered care.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate patient motivations for requesting surgical pathology specimens.
- Explore patient experiences with specimen retention.
- Identify areas for improvement in pathology department support.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
- Mixed-methods analysis of patient interviews (n=8).
- Interviews conducted at a US academic medical center (2015-2017).
Main Results:
- Dominant themes: adversity, medical interest, souvenir, cultural beliefs, curiosity.
- Subthemes included afterlife beliefs, preservation, personal ownership, and regret.
- Specimen types varied widely, from products of conception to amputated limbs.
Conclusions:
- Pathologists can enhance patient-centered care by supporting individual patient needs regarding specimens.
- Addressing patient motivations and goals is vital for advancing pathology services.
- Supporting specimen requests can empower patients and improve their healthcare experience.
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