Attitudes of patients toward diagnostic tests. The case of the upper gastrointestinal series roentgenogram.

As part of a study of the clinical value of the upper gastrointestinal roentgenogram series (UGI), we assessed patient attitudes toward the UGI and toward tests in general. We surveyed 483 people undergoing 495 outpatient UGIs at three different hospitals. The majority of the patients wanted to have the UGI, were reassured by the test, thought it helped their physicians, would undergo it again for the same problem, and would have requested the test had their physicians not ordered it. Factors that were associated with favorable attitudes toward tests included male sex, older age, having been told the results of the UGI, improvement in symptoms, and lower educational achievement. We conclude that patients place a high value on certain diagnostic tests and that these attitudes may be associated with sociodemographic factors, patient-physician communication and patient symptom status.