The Effects of Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Survey on Comprehension and Anxiety.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Web-based patient access to personal health information is limited but increasing in Canada and internationally.

Objective

This exploratory study aimed to increase understanding of how Web-based access to laboratory test results in British Columbia (Canada), which has been broadly available since 2010, affects patients' experiences.

Methods

In November 2013, we surveyed adults in British Columbia who had had a laboratory test in the previous 12 months. Using a retrospective cohort design, we compared reported wait-time for results, test result comprehension, and anxiety levels of "service users" who had Web-based access to their test results (n=2047) with those of a general population panel that did not have Web-based access (n=1245).

Results

The vas

SUBMITTER: Mak G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4705365 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature