Covid-19 pandemic lessons: uncritical communication of test results can induce more harm than benefit and raises questions on standardized quality criteria for communication and liability.
Franz PorzsoltGerit PfuhlRobert M KaplanMartin EisemannPublished in: Health psychology and behavioral medicine (2021)
Communication of test results caused perceived anxiety but not perceived safety in 80% of the investigated tests. Medical tests - whether true or false - generate strong psychological messages. In the case of COVID-19 tests may induce more perceived anxiety than safety. Risk communication has to balance objective and subjective risks.