a summary of key findings from a national survey of voters. #07160

A Summary Of Key Findings From A National Survey Of Voters.

#07160

2

On behalf of the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA), Public Opinion Strategies conducted a national survey of 800 registered voters. This survey was conducted March 25-27, 2007, and has a margin of error of +3.5%.

4Public Opinion Strategies – ACLA National Survey March 2007

And, in the PAST TWELVE MONTHS, have you needed to get a laboratory test? And did you go to get this test at a hospital, at your doctor’s office or at an independent laboratory?

Almost seven in ten voters report having a laboratory test conducted in the past year.

Doctor’s Office 37%Hospital 28%Independent Lab 22%

Yes69%

No31%

Among those who needed a laboratory test:

Needed A Laboratory Test In Last Twelve Months


And, thinking about your own personal experience with clinical laboratories, would you say it has been– mostly positive, mostly neutral or mostly negative – or would you say you have not had much experience with clinical laboratories one way or the other?

Among the 69% of voters who had a lab test done in the past year, a majority report having a positive experience

with clinical laboratories.

50%

64%

51%48%

2% 2% 2% 3%

Total Yes(69%)

Yes, IndependentLab

(22%)

Yes, Doctor'soffice(37%)

Yes, Hospital(28%)

Mostly Positive Mostly Negative

Experience with Clinical Laboratories Among Voters Who Needed A Laboratory Test In Last Twelve Months

+48% +62% +49% +45%


Older voters are more likely to report having a lab test done in the last year than their younger counterparts.


41%

61%67%

78% 81%

59%

39%33%

20% 19%

18-34(12%)

35-44(14%)

45-54(28%)

55-64(25%)

65+(21%)

Yes No

-18% +22% +34% +58% +62%

Needed A Laboratory Test In Last Twelve Months By Age


64%73%

64% 67% 69%78%

36%27%

36%32% 30%

22%

Men(48%)

Women(52%)

High Schoolor Less(31%)

Some College/Vocational/Technical

(24%)

CollegeGraduates

(28%)

PostGraduates

(17%)

Yes No

Women and voters with higher levels of education are also more likely to report having a lab test done in the last year.


+28% +46% +28% +35% +39% +56%

Needed A Laboratory Test In Last Twelve Months By Gender and Education

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Voters need some context to offer their opinion on clinical laboratories.

We divided the 800 registered voters into two groups:

One half of respondents were provided the following neutral description and asked to give their opinion of clinical laboratories:

Thinking about a specific area of health care – that is, clinical laboratories – where tests are done on

blood, urine and other biological specimens in order to get information about the health of a patient.

The other half of respondents were asked their opinion of clinical laboratories without being given any kind of context or description.


Please tell me, is your opinion of clinical laboratories – very favorable, mostly favorable, half-and-half, mostly unfavorable, – or very unfavorable? If you are unfamiliar with clinical laboratories just tell me and we’ll move on.

Providing information clearly gives respondents a better understanding of clinical laboratories. Importantly, there are virtually no unfavorable feelings about clinical labs –

whether respondents were given information or not.

With Description Without Description

Total Heard of:

83%83%Total Heard of:

62%62%

Image Of Clinical Laboratories

54%

32%

18%15%

3%5%

Favorable Half and Half Unfavorable

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If a friend or neighbor asked you to explain what clinical laboratories are, what might you tell them?

The majority of respondents say clinical laboratories are where diagnostic tests are done on blood, urine and other specimens.

Other respondents say it is more of a research lab where scientists study and test diseases, new medicines, and possible cures.

Some of these respondents also included psychological research in their explanation of clinical laboratories.

We asked the group of voters who gave their opinion of clinical laboratories without hearing the description to tell us in their

own words…

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Voters were read two statements and asked, on balance, whether the impact of lab tests in the health care system is best described as:

Saving moneySaving money because they help detect and diagnose diseases early so patients can be treated

before their condition gets worse and requires more significant and costly treatment.

...or...Costing moneyCosting money because physicians often order too many unnecessary tests and hospitals can

duplicate tests already ordered by a physician or clinic.


More than two-thirds of voters believe that overall, lab tests are saving money in the health care system.

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Voters were asked to rate a series of statements describing the purpose and potential of lab tests.

Please rate each statement using a one to one hundred scale, where one means it makes you have a cold/very

unfavorable feeling towards clinical laboratories and one hundred means it makes you have a warm/very favorable

feeling towards clinical laboratories, and fifty is neutral. Of course, you can choose any number between one and one

hundred depending on how you feel.

A total of five messages were tested. However, voters were divided into two groups again so each individual respondent only heard three messages.


The most compelling message focuses on the concept of “early detection...diagnosis...and

treatment,” and provides an example of how specific diseases are avoided through use of lab tests.

Early detection of disease and accurate diagnosis through lab tests can often stop a medical problem before it gets worse and requires hospitalization. Early detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease can prevent or delay kidney failure or other conditions, such as heart attack or stroke.

%100

%80-100


Communicating cost savings to the health care system as well as how lab tests help patients scores

highly among voters.

Lab tests often result in significant improvements in efficiency and cost savings. Broader use of lab testing to help manage blood glucose levels for diabetic patients could save over five hundred million dollars annually in our healthcare system. While early detection of high cholesterol through lab tests, may mean a patient can avoid a costly and serious heart bypass surgery and instead be treated by medication.

%100

%80-100


“Precision and peace of mind” is also very important to voters.

Lab tests provide precision and peace of mind for physicians and patients. Lab tests influence about sixty-five percent of the treatment decisions that physicians make – allowing them to make accurate diagnoses and recommend treatments that reduce overall health costs, improve the quality of life for patients and in some cases, ultimately save lives.

%100

%80-100


Talking about the future potential of lab tests scores slightly lower than the other statements, but is still a

strong message.

New types of molecular and genetic lab tests can provide more detailed information than ever about patients, allowing physicians to more accurately identify and diagnose if a patient is prone to a disease or illness. This means prevention or treatment can begin sooner and be specifically targeted for that individual patient’s needs.

%100

%80-100


Now, having heard some more information, please tell me, is your opinion of clinical laboratories very favorable, mostly favorable, half-and-half, mostly unfavorable, – or very unfavorable?

After hearing the messages about lab tests, respondents were asked to re-rate their opinion of clinical laboratories. Now,

more than three-quarters of voters have a favorable opinion.

Without Description With Description Post Messaging

Initial Image Of Clinical Laboratories Final Image Of Clinical Laboratories

32%

54%

77%

15% 18% 20%

5% 3% 2%

Favorable Half and Half Unfavorable

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Voters need some context for clinical laboratories – without some information, it is not obvious to all respondents exactly what a clinical laboratory is or what it does.

Once provided this information, a majority of voters have a favorable opinion of clinical laboratories.

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Almost seven-in-ten voters report having a lab test done in the last year and a majority of these respondents say they had a positive experience.

It is clear in the mind of voters that laboratory tests provide cost savings in the health care system.

a summary of key findings from a national survey of voters. #07160

Documents

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