Table 1 The benefits and challenges of reformatting lab reports to address patient barriers to comprehension

Option 1: Interpretive summary

· Includes short patient-friendly summary of test performed, results, interpretation and clinical recommendations

· Only part of report that is patient-friendly is the boxed summary

· Easy for patients to find important results in multi-page report

· Requires minimal effort from lab

· May aid providers as well as patients in understanding results

· Clinicians can ‘borrow’ text from summary box to include in EMR

Option 2: Summary letter

· Includes an overview of the information in the results report in a patient-friendly letter

· Would require an EMR to work most effectively

· There is already an established practice in place (for example, genetic counselors writing letters)

· Requires an extensive amount of time to set up templates/standardized text

· Letters are personalized for each patient

· Requires additional time for each patient

· Requires collaboration between lab and clinician to write detailed letter

Option 3: Patient user guide

· Includes an explanation of each section of the report in patient-friendly language

· Would benefit from having an EMR in place

· Can assist patients in use of patient portal to review results

· Requires an extensive amount of time to set up templates

· Providing user guide prior to testing may enable patients to be prepared for result

· Only text that will be patient-friendly is the guide; text within the report may still be difficult to understand

· Would require minimal effort for each individual patient

Option 4: Complete patient-friendly report

· The entire report is written in patient-friendly language

· Requires an extensive amount of time to set up templates/standardized text

· May aid providers as well as patients in understanding results

· Providing a patient-friendly report in addition to a standard report may satisfy patients with higher literacy