Interpretation of immediately released health information: Informing patient medical education in breast oncology

Abstract

Background

The Cures Act mandated immediately released health information. In this study, we investigated patient comprehension of mammography reports and the utility of online resources to aid report interpretation.

Methods

Patients who received a normal mammogram from February to April 2022 were invited to complete semi-structured interviews paired with health literacy questionnaires to assess patient's report comprehension before and after internet search.

Results

Thirteen selected patients via purposeful sampling completed interviews. Most patients described their initial understanding of the mammography report as “good” and improved to between “good” and “very good” after an internet search. Patients suggested “a little column on the side" for medical terminology, “an extra prompt" for making an appointment, or a recommendation for “good sites” to improve mammography reports.

Conclusion

Patients varied in their ability to independently interpret medical reports and seek additional resources. While online resources marginally improved patient understanding, actionable and clear resources are needed.