LAUSR

Our study aimed to assess the best way that dermatologists can communicate pathology results to patients and the preferred methods of communication, which may improve clinician efficiency. There is no specific protocol for how patients should be notified of medical results, with methods varying between different hospitals and between the public and the private system. Feasible methods of electronic communication include using the telephone, email or text messages. Some research has been done in other countries on patients’ preferences for the communication of dermatology results. It is estimated that 81% of the population owns a smart phone. Studies in the USA found that there was a growing dissatisfaction with the ‘no news is good news policy’ and that patients preferred to receive an electronic notification of normal results. However, most patients preferred a phone call for receiving abnormal results. This study was conducted in the outpatient dermatology clinic at a tertiary hospital in a major city in Australia. Approval for the survey was obtained from the district health service Human Research Ethics Committee. Consecutive patients were surveyed while they were attending their routine appointment. The respondents were asked their preferred method of communication for receiving skin biopsy, skin swab or blood test results. In addition, 11 junior doctors who had completed a resident rotation in the same department responded to our phone survey with each spending between 3 and 7 hours per day ringing patients with their results. Overall, 78% (n = 78) of patients preferred using a quicker method than speaking directly to their physician. Texting was favoured by 59% (n = 59) of patients for receiving normal results which included 77% (n = 43) of patients under the age of 60 years (Table 1). Most participants 55% (n = 55) preferred to receive a mobile phone call from their doctor for an abnormal result (Table 2). However, 13% (n = 9) of respondents over 46 years of age were happy to receive abnormal results via a text message, which may reflect the fact that they had previously had diagnoses of skin cancer and were thus less anxious about the result. Patients older than 60 years continue to be dependent on landlines with 30% (n = 13) preferring this form of communication for abnormal results. Having a history of melanoma did not impact on their preference. In total, 82% (n = 9) of doctors preferred using email or text messages for normal results and a mobile phone call for communicating abnormal results. Concerns over confidentiality with using text messaging was reported by only 30% (n = 30) of patients, with no