Blood test result communication in primary care: mixed-methods systematic review protocol

Background: After testing, ensuring test results are communicated and actioned is important for patient safety, with failure or delay in diagnosis the most common cause of malpractice claims in primary care worldwide. Identifying interventions to improve test communication from the decision to test through to sharing of results has important implications for patient safety, GP workload, and patient engagement. Aim: To assess the factors around communication of blood test results between primary care providers (for example GPs, nurses, reception staff) and their patients and carers. Design & setting: A mixed methods systematic review including primary studies involving communication of blood test results in primary care. Method: The review will use a segregated convergent synthesis method. Qualitative information will be synthesised using a meta-aggregative approach, and quantitative data will be meta-analysed or synthesised if pooling of studies is appropriate and data are available. If not, data will be presented in tabular and descriptive summary form. Conclusion: This review has the potential to provide conclusions about blood test result communication interventions and factors important to stakeholders, including barriers and facilitators to improved communication.