A New Cancer Diagnosis is Never Good—Patient Choice, Busy Health Systems, and Health Information Access :
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By
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S. Trent Rosenbloom
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Bryan Steitz
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Catherine M. DesRoches
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June 24, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: Navigating a Cancer Diagnosis: The Impact of Patient Preferences, Overwhelmed Healthcare Systems, and Access to Health Information
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Cancer Diagnosis |
| Key Mechanisms | Patient preferences for receiving health information and the impact of health system policies on access to information. |
| Target Population | Patients diagnosed with cancer. |
| Care Setting | Healthcare systems managing patient information access. |
Key Highlights
- The 21st Century Cures Act enhances patient access to health information.
- Patients prefer control over how and when they receive their health information.
- Immediate access to results via patient portals may increase anxiety.
- Patients often prefer to receive serious results, like cancer diagnoses, in person.
- Research is needed to better understand patient preferences in cancer diagnosis contexts.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Consider patient preferences when delivering test results.
Management
- Facilitate timely communication of results while respecting patient choices.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Evaluate the impact of information delivery methods on patient anxiety.
Risks
- Unintended consequences of immediate access to results may include increased patient distress.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients facing cancer diagnoses.
Patients may prefer to receive life-changing results in a supportive environment.
Clinical Best Practices
- Implement policies that allow for patient choice in receiving health information.
- Train healthcare professionals to discuss the implications of test results effectively.
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