Why is this research being done? 

Blood tests can sometimes cause harm. A result may be slightly outside the normal range even when someone is healthy. This can cause worry and uncertainty, and may lead to further tests, appointments or treatment that are not needed. On the other hand, a normal result does not always mean that there is nothing wrong, and may sometimes give false reassurance or distract from other possible causes of symptoms. 

Communicating effectively about blood testing is important for patient safety and involving patients in their healthcare. However, limitations of blood tests are not always explained clearly to patients. This means GP staff and patients may have different expectations and understandings of blood tests. We know from previous research that patients often feel unsure about why blood tests are done and what results mean. Patients also report not having enough opportunity to discuss blood tests with GP staff.

What is the purpose of this research? 

This project will explore how blood tests are discussed between patients and GP staff. It is an ethnographic study, which means we will study what happens in real GP practices, rather than only asking people what they think or what they remember happening. We will spend time in GP practices to understand how conversations about blood tests happen in everyday practice. Very little research of this kind has focused on blood tests. This study will give a new view of how decisions about blood tests are made and how conversations about them actually happen. 

The project is also participatory. This means we will work with GP staff and patients throughout the project to understand their experiences and ideas about how communication could be improved. Rather than simply studying what happens and reporting our findings, we want to work with the people involved to develop practical ways of communicating more clearly about the limitations and risks of blood tests.

The aim is to improve communication about blood testing, so that patients can be more involved in decisions about blood tests and have a clearer understanding of what their results mean for their health.