Objective:

To examine patient experiences and communication preferences regarding cancer diagnosis delivery before and after the implementation of the 21st Century Cures Act.

Approach:

• Survey Methodology: Conducted an online survey among English-speaking cancer patients at University of Texas Southwestern from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2023, assessing demographics, cancer history, and diagnosis communication preferences.
• Data Analysis: Analyzed associations between diagnosis delivery methods and patient preferences using χ2 and t tests at a significance level of .05.

Key Findings:

• From 14,561 delivered surveys, 2,412 responses (17% response rate) were received.
• 84% of respondents received their cancer diagnosis from their clinical team, while 7% learned through the patient portal.
• 75% preferred clinician communication for future diagnoses, with preferences varying by sex and portal usage.
• 71% of those who received a diagnosis via the portal were at home, and 59% were alone at the time.

Interpretation:

While many patients appreciate rapid electronic access to test results, a significant majority prefer to receive cancer diagnoses directly from their clinical team.

Limitations:

• Single-center design and modest response rate may limit generalizability.
• Study restricted to English-speaking individuals and a relatively educated population.
• Did not assess whether patients accessed portal results voluntarily or through automatic notifications.

Conclusion:

Future research could explore tailored communication approaches to better align with patient preferences regarding cancer diagnosis delivery.