Patients Prefer Online Portal for Biopsy Results

Online-portal_noParallaxTemplate1

Most people would rather learn good news after a skin biopsy online, according to a new study in JAMA Dermatology.

According to the research, result delivery method preferences relied upon:

  • The amount of information in the result
  • How long it may take to receive results
  • Use of an online portal in the past
  • If biopsy results were benign or abnormal—69 percent would rather learn about abnormal results by telephone, while 55 percent would prefer an online portal for benign results.

This round of research included responses of 204 adult patients of George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates’ dermatology clinic. Researchers recorded information on patients’ basic demographic and medical information—excluding race or ethnicity—along with any previous skin biopsies and method of receiving results. The study sought to fill the gap left by similar research that primarily targeted preferences concerning melanoma that unlikely to receive a benign result.

"We want to make sure we’re addressing the needs of the patients as best we can. Everyone is a bit different,” said Dr. Charles Mitchell, senior author of the study.

For skin care professionals in the spa industry that wish to take part in the fight against skin cancer by detecting suspicious moles early, Skin Inc. and Face & Body Midwest have partnered with the Melanoma Foundation of New England to offer two on-site skin cancer education programs on Jan. 22 and Jan. 23, 2017.

Source: www.reuters.com

More in MedSpa