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A new study published in JAMA reveals that medical reports are often difficult for patients to understand, raising concerns about patient anxiety and the potential for confusion. The issue stems from a provision in the 21st Century Cures Act, which, since April 2021, mandates the immediate release of medical test results to a patient’s electronic medical record. As a result, many patients are reviewing their test results before their doctors.
According to Dr. Cathryn Lapedis, M.D., M.P.H., of the Department of Pathology at University of Michigan Health, many medical reports are written for specialists, not patients. “A standard pathology report is designed for clinicians, not for the layperson,” said Dr. Lapedis. “For instance, a report might use medical terms like ‘prostatic adenocarcinoma,’ but a patient-centered report would simply call it ‘prostate cancer.'” This shift in language could play a crucial role in helping patients better understand their diagnoses.
To investigate this, Dr. Lapedis and her team conducted a study involving 2,238 adults aged 55 to 84, who had no history of prostate cancer. The participants were given a hypothetical scenario in which they received biopsy results through their patient portal. They were then shown one of three types of reports: a standard University of Michigan report, a standard VA report, or a patient-centered pathology report.
The study found that most participants struggled to understand the results of standard reports. Only 39% of those reviewing the University report accurately identified the presence of cancer. In contrast, 93% of participants who received the patient-centered report correctly identified their diagnosis as prostate cancer.
Additionally, the patient-centered report helped participants gauge their risk level more accurately and was associated with a lower level of anxiety. “We found that people’s worry was more closely aligned with their actual risk when they received the patient-centered report,” Dr. Lapedis explained.
Based on these findings, Dr. Lapedis recommends that hospitals consider using patient-centered pathology reports to improve patient understanding and reduce unnecessary worry. “Our team plans to continue studying how these reports could be implemented at the University of Michigan,” she added.
For patients awaiting test results, Dr. Lapedis suggests discussing with clinicians the specific terms to look for in reports, even before undergoing a test.
The study emphasizes the need for a shift toward clearer communication in medical reports, which could significantly impact how patients process their diagnoses and manage their health.
More Information: Cathryn J. Lapedis et al, “Knowledge and Worry Following Review of Standard vs Patient-Centered Pathology Reports,” JAMA (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.25461
Journal Information: Journal of the American Medical Association
