Communication of cancer screening results by letter, telephone or in person

This systematic review aimed to explore which communication methods are used for the delivery of results in cancer screening programs, how women prefer to have their results delivered and how the communication methods impact anxiety and understanding of results. A mixed-methods review was carried out, allowing for the synthesis of quantitative anxiety measures and qualitative experiences of screened women. 10, 558 publications were identified, with seven meeting the inclusion criteria. Verbal communication methods, either over the phone or in-person, were preferred and facilitated greater understanding than written methods. Findings for anxiety were mixed, with no clear consensus on which method of communication minimises anxiety. Due to the low number of studies, with generally low quality evidence, more research into appropriate methods of communication is needed. Read the full text