Reassurance after a normal result works better when expectations were set beforehand. Before ordering a test, tell the patient what you are looking for, how likely you think a serious cause is, and what you will do if the result is normal.
This turns the result into the expected answer rather than a surprise, and makes it less likely that a normal result is read as "they didn't find it".
- Tell the patient what the test is looking for before you order it
- Say how likely you think a serious cause is
- Agree in advance what happens if the result is normal
- Give the patient clear signs that would warrant coming back
Why it matters
Reassurance starts when the test is ordered, not when the result arrives.
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