Accessible Results: enabling patients with diverse needs to access and understand their blood test results online
Promoting the accessibility of online blood test results
The person-based approach will be utilised, working with patients, carers, clinicians and other stakeholders. The project will comprise three work packages (WP), building on an ongoing systematic review. WP1: qualitative interviews with patients and staff to identify user needs. Six GP practices serving diverse communities in Bristol and Manchester will be recruited, and interviews conducted with around 40 patients and 20 primary care staff. Sampling will include a range of participants, including patients with accessibility needs. WP2: co-production workshops to develop draft tools and guidance. 8-10 co-production workshops will be conducted involving diverse patient groups, primary care staff and a PPIE advisory panel to develop draft tools and guidance to facilitate the accessibility of online blood test results. These will be user-tested and iteratively refined in subsequent workshops and later WP1 interviews. WP3: web-based user-testing and refinement of the tools and guidance. A questionnaire will be disseminated to patients via GP practices and community groups for further user testing and refinement of the tools and guidance. The final output will be an implementation intervention which may include: 1. Prototype tools for presenting test results in a more accessible way in the NHS App 2. Template wording for clinicians to use when adding comments to test results 3. Posters and/or leaflets for patients to improve their understanding of online test results 4. Resources for patients with diverse needs to help them navigate results online
Current key inclusion criteria as of 11/05/2026: WP1: Patient and carer interview participants: Patient aged ≥18 years who has had a blood test in the previous month Or: Carer aged ≥18 of a patient who has had a blood test in the previous month Primary care staff interview participants: Member of primary care staff involved in systems of blood test communication (to include both clinical and non-clinical staff) WP2: Patient workshops: Participant aged ≥18 years Or: Carer aged ≥18 years of a patient Clinician workshops: Person aged ≥18 years employed in a role that involves communicating test results to patients For example, GPs, nurses, receptionists, practice managers, healthcare assistants, laboratory staff, clinical biochemists or haematologists. WP3: Patient (or carer of a patient) aged ≥18 years who has had a blood test in the past 6 months OR Patient (or carer of a patient) aged ≥18 years who has been involved in the WP2 workshops Previous key inclusion criteria: WP1: Patient and carer interview participants: Patient aged ≥18 years who has had a blood test in the previous month Or: Carer aged ≥18 of a patient who has had a blood test in the previous month Primary care staff interview participants: Member of primary care staff involved in systems of blood test communication (to include both clinical and non-clinical staff) WP2: Patient workshops: Participant aged ≥18 years Or: Carer aged ≥18 years of a patient Clinician workshops: Person aged ≥18 years employed in a role that involves communicating test results to patients For example, GPs, nurses, receptionists, practice managers, healthcare assistants, laboratory staff, clinical biochemists or haematologists. WP3: Patient (or carer of a patient) aged ≥18 years who has had a blood test in the past 1 month OR Patient (or carer of a patient) aged ≥18 years who has been involved in the WP2 workshops
WP1: Patient and carer interview participants: 1. Clinician feels it would be clinically inappropriate to invite a participant (e.g. patient on palliative care register) 2. Person is unable to give informed consent Primary care staff interview participants: Locum staff or staff members working less than 1 day per week in a practice WP2: Patient workshops: 1. Person is unable to give informed consent 2. Clinician feels it would be clinically inappropriate to invite a participant (e.g. patient on palliative care register) WP3: Clinician feels it would be clinically inappropriate to invite a participant (e.g. patient on palliative care register)