Abstract
Screening programs are constantly evolving to incorporate advances in testing, vaccines, as well as epidemiological developments. At the same time, digitalisation trends can enable healthcare to move into a patient-centric digital-first interaction paradigm. While this can improve effectiveness, its impact on patients and physicians is potentially adverse. We aim to understand how general practitioners (GPs) and their patients interact with digitalisation in evolving screening programs. Based on the Norwegian Cervical Cancer Screening Program, we conducted workshops with GPs to elucidate their concerns about (digital) communications in screening. We find that GPs are most concerned about (a) shielding their patients from unnecessary anxiety and complexity, as well as (b) potential escalation of their workload. We discuss dilemmas around the right-to-know, patient anxiety, and information overload, and then distill six design guidelines for a patient-centric communications of screening results: (i) use gradual disclosure, (ii) use delayed disclosure, (iii) pre-educate participants, (iv) do not push information, (v) notify on appropriate times of the day, and (vi) assign clear organizational responsibility.