Standardizing the approach to patient-centred medical reporting

HHF was approached to co-design patient-centred reports for prostate imaging and pathology. These reports establish a standardized, patient-centred format, translating complex clinical information into clear language and visuals so that individuals feel more informed and prepared for consultations and treatment decisions.

Client

UHN Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

In collaboration with

Dr. Nathan Perlis

Services

Ethnographic Research, Contextual Interviews, Communication Design, Usability Testing

Challenge

BACKGROUND

The rise of digital health platforms has given patients access to their medical records — such as biopsy, MR, CT, and ultrasound reports — which were once solely intended for healthcare professionals.  While this promotes transparency and patient involvement, the reports often contain complex medical jargon that can leave patients feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

To address this, HHF was approached by Dr. Nathan Perlis, a staff urologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, to transform these reports into patient-centred documents. The goal was to provide clear context, helping patients feel more informed and prepared before follow-up appointments, reducing anxiety and confusion.

By redesigning this report type, HHF developed a standardized patient-first format that prioritizes clarity and accessibility. This redesign ensured that reports were not only accessible but also easy to understand, helping patients navigate their results.

An original prostate biopsy report before the redesign.

Process

DISCOVERY

The discovery phase began with a comprehensive review of the existing prostate biopsy report used at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. HHF consulted with clinicians, including Dr. Nathan Perlis and other specialists, surgeons, and radiologists, to identify the key information patients need to understand their reports.

Our team explored how these different specialists would explain findings to patients in person. Many clinicians used informal methods, such as rough sketches on paper, to clarify complex information. Our goal was to identify essential details that needed to be communicated to patients and to transform these sketches into universal, clear representations within the report.

Using affinity mapping, we identified common themes and prioritized important information among different specialists’ perspectives. The findings were shared with Dr. Perlis to refine the report’s content, balancing essential information with input from different clinicians. This iterative feedback loop ensured the reports were both aligned with clinical practices and accessible to patients.

Figures 1 to 5 represent actual informal sketches made by clinicians during consultation with patients, which were not always easy to interpret without explanation.

DESIGN

Following the discovery phase, the design team created an initial draft of the patient-centred prostate biopsy report which was tested with both patients and clinicians to gauge its effectiveness.

Clinician Testing Session: Evaluated if the report provided the right level of information to help prepare patients for follow-up appointments.

Patient Testing Session: Assessed how well patients – especially first-time users – understood the report.

Patient testing revealed that patients have varying levels of health literacy and comfort in navigating health information. The report needed to provide clear insights for those who may feel overwhelmed by medical information while offering a definitive starting point for those who want more details.

The patient-centred approach involved:

1. Translating complex medical language into layman’s terms
2. Using visual diagrams to highlight key findings
3. Providing context for better understanding
4. Defining frequently asked questions
5. Offering guidance on next steps to address patients’ “what now?” concerns

HHF conducted three design sprints to refine the reports with feedback from patients, family members, and clinicians to improve clarity, relevance, and usability.

After developing the prostate biopsy report, HHF was engaged to redesign the prostate MRI and kidney reports used at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. The kidney report it still ongoing.

This graphic shows a prostate biopsy report with a cancer diagnosis. Annotations highlight patient-informed design changes.

Outcomes

The final deliverables included fully developed and tested templates for prostate biopsy and MRI reports, as well as kidney MRI, CT, and ultrasound reports. The reports feature clear, patient-centred content designed to communicate medical findings to enhance patient understanding.

The prostate pathology reports were evaluated in a clinical trial, currently pending submission to the Journal of Urology. The trial assessed whether patient-centred pathology reports could enhance patient understanding, reduce anxiety, and improve overall experience. Results show that patients who received both the standard and the patient-centred reports had significantly better experiences. They reported higher satisfaction in understanding the content (74% vs. 20%), felt more in control (65% vs. 30%), and experienced reduced anxiety (81% vs. 31%) compared to those who only received the standard report. Comprehension of their condition and awareness of treatment options also improved, highlighting the benefits of this approach.

Through this work, HHF established a standardized framework for medical report design – establishing consistency across medical conditions while addressing common challenges faced by patients accessing various reports.

74%
of patients who received patient-centered reports felt more satisfied with their understanding
65%
of patients who received patient-centered reports felt more in control
81%
of patients who received patient-centered reports experienced reduced anxiety.

This initiative reflects the evolution of medical reporting, shifting from a clinician-centric model to one that empowers patients as active participants in their care.

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