University of California, Los Angeles
For adults ≥65 years and their providers, the investigators will test the usability and design of a tool to replace standard uniform reporting of lab results to patients and their providers with a new personalized Electronic Health Record (EHR) lab result communication tool that: 1) extracts patient-level data from the EHR; 2) calculates individual risk; and 3) for patients with very low risk, communicates the individualized risk information. The investigators will employ a range of User Experience (UX) research methods to understand how patient and provider users interact with the new lab result communication tool and to assess their comprehension of the lab results. This study will be conducted with both patient and provider participants. The patient participant portion of this study uses a four-arm, design to evaluate three newly designed laboratory result communication template reports compared with the current standard (control) communication. The provider participant portion of this study is non-randomized; all provider participants will review all four template reports. This will include live semi-structured interviews with the participants and review of the template report(s) of the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) lab result communication tool. An anonymous in-person template report feedback survey will be provided to the participants to gauge their understanding of the template report(s), clarity of the information presented, and overall satisfaction with the tool. This will be a single-visit interaction with the participant in the UCLA Health geriatric or general medicine patient waiting room. The survey was revised after an initial pilot.
At UCLA Health over 80% of all patients \>65 years view their lab results through the patient portal within one day of their availability, making this a potentially very powerful way to communicate with patients (in contrast to patient portal messaging which generally has much lower rates of viewing/uptake). Currently, lab results displayed to patients and providers via the EHR include a reference range; results outside this range are printed in red and marked by a red arrow indicator ("flagged"). Though there is a disclaimer in small text at the bottom of the report explaining that "\[a\] tes…
Patient Inclusion Criteria: * Older adults (aged ≥65 years); * Currently have a UCLA primary care provider (PCP); * Enrolled in the patient portal; * English-speaking (as the language of the tool is currently only in English, and it would be impractical to have validated translations created for all of the potential variations and derivatives of the tool template reports); and * Without dementia or other neurocognitive disease. * Does not have End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) Provider Inclusion Criteria: \- UCLA Health providers who care for large numbers of older adults in outpatient settin…
A behavioral intervention delivered through a personalized Electronic Health Record (EHR)-integrated lab result communication tool designed to improve emotional and cognitive responses to lab results among adults aged 65+. The tool applies behavioral science principles such as risk personalization, simplified messaging, and visual framing to reduce patient anxiety, enhance understanding, and support informed decision-making.