title: Patients and tests - a study into patient understanding of blood tests ordered by their doctor.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient understanding of diagnostic tests is important in general practice. This study describes how patients understand information about their tests, using blood tests as an example.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey of patients attending two hospital blood collection centres in Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An 89% response rate (n=135): 90% of patients understood the reasons for tests but only 19% could name them; 86% reported that their doctor explained their tests and 89% reported they understood their doctor's explanation. Doctors offered 35% of patients a copy of test results. Patients who knew their general practitioner were more aware of preparations needed for undertaking blood tests (p<0.001). Thirty-six percent would seek information from the people working at blood collection centres.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients understood the reasons blood tests were ordered, although only a few could name them. A strong relationship was found between doctors explaining blood tests and patients understanding the reasons for tests. Nevertheless, information sharing was at a low level.
authors.affiliation: ANU Medical School, Academic Unit of General Practice and Community Health, School of General Practice, Rural and Indigenous Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. marjan.kljakovic@anu.edu.au
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kljakovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020958:Australian Capital Territory; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*