Patients’ First Choice of Method of Notification of Normal Laboratory Results*
| Variable | US Mail | Phone Call by Clinic Staff | Phone Call by Physician | Phone Call by Patient | F/U or Office Visit | No Preference | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | <.01 | |||||||
| Male | 24.4 | 7.6 | 23.1 | 25.3 | 3.6 | 13.8 | 2.2 | |
| Female | 35.4 | 4.3 | 24.1 | 21.5 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 5.9 | |
| Age (years) | <.001 | |||||||
| 18–39 | 25.0 | 8.9 | 26.3 | 26.7 | 3.0 | 5.1 | 5.1 | |
| 40–59 | 44.5 | 4.0 | 19.0 | 17.0 | 2.4 | 9.3 | 3.6 | |
| ≥60 | 23.9 | 2.9 | 26.3 | 25.4 | 2.4 | 13.7 | 5.4 | |
| Race/ethnicity | .005 | |||||||
| White | 34.3 | 5.7 | 24.6 | 21.8 | 2.2 | 7.1 | 4.4 | |
| African American | 28.3 | 4.3 | 17.4 | 32.6 | 3.3 | 10.9 | 3.3 | |
| Hispanic | 17.5 | 3.2 | 28.6 | 17.5 | 6.3 | 19.0 | 7.9 | |
| Other | 26.7 | 13.3 | 6.7 | 20.0 | — | 20.0 | 13.3 | |
| Education | <.001 | |||||||
| Some high school | 12.5 | — | 35.0 | 22.5 | 2.5 | 20.0 | 7.5 | |
| High school diploma | 24.0 | 1.1 | 25.1 | 27.4 | 5.1 | 11.4 | 5.7 | |
| Some college | 35.3 | 5.1 | 22.4 | 24.7 | 1.2 | 7.5 | 3.9 | |
| College graduate | 38.2 | 10.4 | 21.2 | 16.0 | 2.4 | 7.5 | 4.2 | |
| Annual income ($) | .005 | |||||||
| ≤20,000 | 20.6 | 2.0 | 26.5 | 29.4 | 3.9 | 10.8 | 6.9 | |
| 20,001–39,999 | 32.9 | 2.9 | 25.3 | 20.6 | 4.1 | 9.4 | 4.7 | |
| 40,000–59,999 | 29.8 | 5.6 | 26.7 | 25.5 | 1.9 | 6.8 | 3.7 | |
| ≥60,000 | 40.6 | 10.7 | 18.3 | 18.8 | 1.5 | 6.1 | 4.1 | |
| Marital status | .31 | |||||||
| Single | 32.8 | 6.2 | 23.5 | 21.0 | 2.1 | 10.3 | 4.1 | |
| Married | 29.1 | 2.5 | 21.5 | 30.4 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 6.3 | |
| Separated | 44.4 | — | — | 44.4 | — | 11.0 | — | |
| Divorced | 34.4 | 7.8 | 26.6 | 20.3 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 4.7 | |
| Widowed | 21.3 | — | 25.5 | 27.7 | 4.3 | 12.8 | 8.5 |
* Numbers represent row percent.
F/U, follow-up appointment.