ArticleHealth expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy2026
'Communication Is Crucial': A Qualitative Study of Patient Expectations of Diagnostic Tests in Emergency Medicine Practice.
Article in Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Co-Design of a Theory-Informed, Multicomponent, Intervention for Diagnostic Stewardship in a Major-Referral Emergency Department: A Qualitative Descriptive Study.Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionValue-based diagnostic tests improve patient safety. Understanding patient expectations can enhance the value of diagnostic tests in Emergency Departments. The aim of this study was to explore patient expectations about diagnostic tests to inform diagnostic stewardship in emergency medicine practice.
methodsA qualitative study of adult patients who had received care at Townsville University Hospital Emergency Department was conducted. The study was promoted through e-mail and social media. A convenience sample of consenting participants was recruited until data adequacy was achieved. Data were collected using focus groups with a pilot-tested guide to ensure clarity and consistency. Data were analysed by lead author using inductive content analysis to generate codes and themes. Themes were validated for credibility, transferability, dependability and confirmability using the following trustworthiness criteria: reflexivity, rich description, audit trail and participant validation.
resultsFive focus groups were conducted with 22 participants. Therapeutic relationship, communication, patient-centred care and quality of care were identified as the major themes of patient expectations when seeking Emergency Department care. Diagnostic test deliberations were expected to be respectful, trustworthy, empathetic and culturally safe. Patient engagement in decision making about diagnostic tests was considered essential to address individual symptoms and concerns. Participants expressed varied expectations regarding discussion about rationale and risks of tests. Questioning clinicians about tests was perceived to be a challenge due to power imbalance. Participants disagreed with defensive tests performed to minimise medicolegal liability. Timeliness of tests was acknowledged as resource dependent. Clinician-patient conflicts about tests were thought to be best resolved through a collaborative approach.
conclusionsPatients have diverse and nuanced expectations of diagnostic tests in emergency departments. Patients trust emergency clinicians to listen empathetically, explain carefully and choose tests wisely. Patient values, preferences, life experiences and vulnerability should be factored into decision-making about tests. Clinician-patient partnerships grounded in effective communication are essential for diagnostic stewardship. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Two patients with lived experience were involved in study design, data collection and review of final manuscript.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.