Blood test result communication in primary care: mixed-methods systematic review protocol

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Patient Safety
• Primary Health Care

Background:

• Effective communication of test results is vital for patient safety and reducing malpractice claims in primary care.
• Delays or failures in diagnosis, often linked to poor test result communication, are a leading cause of malpractice worldwide.
• Improving test result communication impacts patient safety, general practitioner (GP) workload, and patient engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate factors influencing the communication of blood test results.
• To understand the perspectives of primary care providers (GPs, nurses, reception staff), patients, and carers.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for effective blood test result communication.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted.
• Included primary studies focused on blood test result communication in primary care settings.
• Employed a segregated convergent synthesis: meta-aggregation for qualitative data and meta-analysis or descriptive synthesis for quantitative data.

Main Results:

• The review synthesizes findings on factors affecting blood test result communication.
• Identifies barriers and facilitators impacting the communication process.
• Highlights interventions to improve communication from test ordering to result sharing.

Conclusions:

• This systematic review provides insights into effective blood test result communication strategies.
• Offers conclusions on interventions and factors critical for stakeholders.
• Aims to enhance patient safety and healthcare efficiency through improved communication practices.