Explaining Normal Test Results Before Testing May Reassure Patients

Without pretest explanation, patients may not understand what a “negative” test result means.

In the emergency department, we commonly rule out worrisome diagnoses but are unable to confirm a benign cause for a patient’s symptoms. This uncertainty may leave patients anxious or concerned. Researchers prospectively randomized 92 patients with chest pain who were undergoing exercise stress testing to receive one of three interventions before the test: standard test information, a pamphlet explaining the meaning of normal test results, or the pamphlet plus a brief discussion with a psychologist about the meaning of normal test results.

Levels of post-test reassurance (assessed using a validated 10-point scale) were higher in the pamphlet-plus-discussion group (65%) than in the control group (56%) and the pamphlet-only group (44%). These …

Reviewing Author

Kristi L. Koenig, MD, FACEP