Education for Pediatric Gastroenterology Pathology Reports Increases Understanding Ahead of 21st Century Cures Act Rollout

As a result of the 21st Century Cures Act, Pediatric Gastroenterology (Peds GI) patients and caregivers are receiving pathology reports directly on their online patient portal. This quality improvement project attempted to validate an educational handout about Peds GI pathology reports and identify areas for caregiver education. METHODS: Caregivers (n = 59) of patients undergoing Peds GI procedures were surveyed about their knowledge of pathology reports. Caregivers’ responses to each of 4 questions were assessed before and after reading an educational handout. These 4 questions questioned the contents and creators of pathology reports, the role of pathologists, and caregiver confidence in interpreting pathology reports. RESULTS: Nearly one-third of caregivers did not know the role of pathologists before education, and one-fifth of caregivers did not know the contents of a pathology report. Caregivers with less than a college degree (n = 21, P = 0.0089), and caregivers of patients undergoing their first procedure (n = 27, P = 0.0022) showed a significant improvement in responses after the educational handout. CONCLUSIONS: Educational handouts can increase caregiver understanding of pathology reports, especially for those with lower education levels or those with children undergoing their first procedure.