88% of doctors would rather give bad biopsy results in person rather than by phone, video consult or text. In an article in the November 2015 issue of JAMA Oncology, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor researchers Naveen Krishnan, BS, Angela Fagerlin, PhD, and Ted A. Skolaris, MD, MPH, argued that telephone consults for bad biopsy results “can potentially relieve much of the anxiety associated with in-person consultations while delivering bad news in a timely, compassionate and patient-centered manner.” The survey also found that the majority of physicians are not comfortable with using a computer to make decisions about their patients. Previous research had suggested that patients respond to bad news better when it is given via telemedicine, as receiving such test results over the phone meant that they had time to absorb the diagnosis, and be better prepared to deal with the news in the company of family.
88% of doctors would rather give bad biopsy results in person rather than by phone, video consult or text. The survey also found that the majority of physicians are not comfortable with using a computer to make decisions about their patients. Previous research had suggested that patients respond to bad news better when it is given via telemedicine, as receiving such test results over the phone meant that they had time to absorb the diagnosis, and be better prepared to deal with the news in the company of family.