Prior information on normal diagnostic test results can provide reassurance

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Giving patients more information on normal diagnostic test results can stop them worrying about their health.
Patients often worry when they need diagnostic tests. Even if the result proves normal, they may still want reassurance about their health. One reason may be that a normal test result is often given without any further information. Researchers in New Zealand now report on a new approach to giving normal diagnostic test results which may be more helpful.

They looked at 92 patients with chest pain needing to have a diagnostic exercise stress test. One group received just the normal information sheet on the test, while another received a sheet that added detail on what the test results meant if they came out normal. The final group received both the latter sheet and met with a health psychologist before the diagnostic test. Before the test, patients filled in a questionnaire rating how worried they were about their health. Those whose test result was normal were given a further questionnaire. Those in the third group - information sheet and discussion - reported less chest pain and were more reassured compared to those in the other groups. Those who received only basic information said they were not reassured by their normal diagnostic test result and their level of reassurance declined with time. Therefore, it appears that a normal diagnostic test result is not sufficient, on its own, to reassure a patient. Information and support are also needed.

Source
BMJ Online First 25th January 2007