Most patients felt calmer after seeing test results right away

Clinical takeaway: Ask patients how they cope with waiting on lab results, and offer extra support to those already worried and those awaiting tests that could point to cancer. An abnormal value alone does not appear to predict who feels worse. Patients who are worrying a lot while waiting may need a support plan. 

The 21st Century Cures Act information blocking rule took effect in April 2021. Since then, US medical centers have generally released test results to patient portals immediately, with no clinician review first. Patients tend to value that access even when a result is abnormal.  

But those who open bad news alone may come away distressed, then send more messages and book more appointments. A patient survey now examines how that worry shows up and for whom. 

Most patients reported less anxiety after viewing their results: 57.6% felt less anxious, 37.8% noticed no change, and 4.6% felt more worried. This pattern held even among patients who reported worry before viewing their results.

Interestingly, abnormal results were not associated with increased worry after results were viewed. However, receiving a result suggestive of cancer was: those patients had 55% higher odds of reporting greater worry afterward, a statistically significant increase. Higher pretest worry also predicted greater postresult worry. Patients who recalled being more worried while awaiting their results had roughly twice the odds of reporting increased worry after viewing them.

Despite the potential for increased worry, nearly nine in 10 patients planned to keep viewing results immediately, including roughly eight in 10 of those who felt more anxious afterward.

The survey was conducted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from September through November 2025, added to the routine Press Ganey patient experience questionnaire sent after outpatient encounters. It included 13,898 patients whose electronic health record confirmed they had viewed results in the prior 45 days. 

“Patients with anxiety around test results should be identified and supported before and during results release,” the authors conclude. “Balancing transparency with individualized support for vulnerable patients is a core challenge for optimizing patient portal experiences in the era of immediate result access.” 

Source: Suresh U, et al. (2026 Oct 20) JAMA Netw Open. Patient Anxiety About Immediately Released Laboratory Test Results