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Improving the Understanding of Test Results by Substituting (Not Adding) Goal Ranges: Web-Based Between-Subjects Experiment

BACKGROUND: Most displays of laboratory test results include a standard reference range. For some patients (eg, those with chronic conditions), however, getting a result within the standard range may be unachievable, inappropriate, or even harmful. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to test t...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Scherer, Aaron M, Witteman, Holly O, Solomon, Jacob, Exe, Nicole L, Fagerlin, Angela, Zikmund-Fisher, Brian J
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: JMIR Publications 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6231727/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30341053
http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/11027
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author Scherer, Aaron M
Witteman, Holly O
Solomon, Jacob
Exe, Nicole L
Fagerlin, Angela
Zikmund-Fisher, Brian J
author_facet Scherer, Aaron M
Witteman, Holly O
Solomon, Jacob
Exe, Nicole L
Fagerlin, Angela
Zikmund-Fisher, Brian J
author_sort Scherer, Aaron M
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Most displays of laboratory test results include a standard reference range. For some patients (eg, those with chronic conditions), however, getting a result within the standard range may be unachievable, inappropriate, or even harmful. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to test the impact of including clinically appropriate goal ranges outside the standard range in the visual displays of laboratory test results. METHODS: Participants (N=6776) from a demographically diverse Web-based panel viewed hypothetical glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) test results (HbA(1c) either 6.2% or 8.2%) as part of a type 2 diabetes management scenario. Test result visual displays included either a standard range (4.5%-5.7%) only, a goal range (6.5%-7.5%) added to the standard range, or the goal range only. The results were displayed in 1 of the following 3 display formats: (1) a table; (2) a simple, two-colored number line (simple line); or (3) a number line with diagnostic categories indicated via colored blocks (block line). Primary outcome measures were comprehension of and negative reactions to test results. RESULTS: While goal range information did not influence the understanding of HbA(1c)=8.2% results, the goal range only display produced higher levels of comprehension and decreased negative reactions to HbA(1c)=6.2% test results compared with the no goal range and goal range added conditions. Goal range information was less helpful in the block line condition versus the other formats. CONCLUSIONS: Replacing the standard range with a clinically appropriate goal range could help patients better understand how their test results relate to their personal targets.
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spelling pubmed-62317272018-12-03 Improving the Understanding of Test Results by Substituting (Not Adding) Goal Ranges: Web-Based Between-Subjects Experiment Scherer, Aaron M Witteman, Holly O Solomon, Jacob Exe, Nicole L Fagerlin, Angela Zikmund-Fisher, Brian J J Med Internet Res Original Paper BACKGROUND: Most displays of laboratory test results include a standard reference range. For some patients (eg, those with chronic conditions), however, getting a result within the standard range may be unachievable, inappropriate, or even harmful. OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to test the impact of including clinically appropriate goal ranges outside the standard range in the visual displays of laboratory test results. METHODS: Participants (N=6776) from a demographically diverse Web-based panel viewed hypothetical glycated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) test results (HbA(1c) either 6.2% or 8.2%) as part of a type 2 diabetes management scenario. Test result visual displays included either a standard range (4.5%-5.7%) only, a goal range (6.5%-7.5%) added to the standard range, or the goal range only. The results were displayed in 1 of the following 3 display formats: (1) a table; (2) a simple, two-colored number line (simple line); or (3) a number line with diagnostic categories indicated via colored blocks (block line). Primary outcome measures were comprehension of and negative reactions to test results. RESULTS: While goal range information did not influence the understanding of HbA(1c)=8.2% results, the goal range only display produced higher levels of comprehension and decreased negative reactions to HbA(1c)=6.2% test results compared with the no goal range and goal range added conditions. Goal range information was less helpful in the block line condition versus the other formats. CONCLUSIONS: Replacing the standard range with a clinically appropriate goal range could help patients better understand how their test results relate to their personal targets. JMIR Publications 2018-10-19 /pmc/articles/PMC6231727/ /pubmed/30341053 http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/11027 Text en ©Aaron M Scherer, Holly O Witteman, Jacob Solomon, Nicole L Exe, Angela Fagerlin, Brian J Zikmund-Fisher. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 19.10.2018. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, is properly cited. The complete bibliographic information, a link to the original publication on http://www.jmir.org/, as well as this copyright and license information must be included.
spellingShingle Original Paper
Scherer, Aaron M
Witteman, Holly O
Solomon, Jacob
Exe, Nicole L
Fagerlin, Angela
Zikmund-Fisher, Brian J
Improving the Understanding of Test Results by Substituting (Not Adding) Goal Ranges: Web-Based Between-Subjects Experiment
title Improving the Understanding of Test Results by Substituting (Not Adding) Goal Ranges: Web-Based Between-Subjects Experiment
title_full Improving the Understanding of Test Results by Substituting (Not Adding) Goal Ranges: Web-Based Between-Subjects Experiment
title_fullStr Improving the Understanding of Test Results by Substituting (Not Adding) Goal Ranges: Web-Based Between-Subjects Experiment
title_full_unstemmed Improving the Understanding of Test Results by Substituting (Not Adding) Goal Ranges: Web-Based Between-Subjects Experiment
title_short Improving the Understanding of Test Results by Substituting (Not Adding) Goal Ranges: Web-Based Between-Subjects Experiment
title_sort improving the understanding of test results by substituting (not adding) goal ranges: web-based between-subjects experiment
topic Original Paper
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6231727/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30341053
http://dx.doi.org/10.2196/11027
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