Demographics

Five general practices agreed to take part in the trial and to use the pathology pro forma with consenting patients during clinical consultations. At the conclusion of the pre-test period, a total of 52 pathology reporting pro forma were utilised with patients in clinical consultations with their GP (Table 9).

Table 9: Completed GP & patients questionnaires per participating clinic

Participating Medical Practice	Completed GP & patients questionnaires/pro forma
Milleara Road Clinic (MRC)	20
Somerton Road Medical Centre (SMC)	12
Hillcrest Health Centre (HHC)	10
Harding Street Medical Centre (HMC)	6
Dianella General Practice (DGP)	6

A summary of the patients’ characteristics is shown in Table 10. As shown in the Table, more than half of the patients were males (59.6%) and the rest were females (40.4%). The average patients’ age was 61 years and the patients were mostly 56 years and older (80.4%). Most of the patients had completed a high school certificate (76.9%). Approximately more than one third of the patients were from the same clinic (MRC 37%), 22.2% were from SMC, and 18.5% were from HHC. The rest of the patients were equally from two other different clinics DGP (11.1%) and HMC (11.1%).

Table 10: A summary of the patients’ characteristics

Variables	Categories	Frequency (percentage)	Missing
Sex	Male	28 (59.6%)	7
	Female	19 (40.4%)
Age Range: The average age of participants is 61 years.	31-35	1 (2.2%)	8
	41-45	2 (4.3%)
	46-50	3 (6.5%)
	51-55	3 (6.5%)
	56-60	12 (26.1%)
	61 or older	25 (54.3%)
Education Level	Primary school	2 (5.1%)	15
	High School	30 (76.9%)
	Diploma	4(10.3%)
	Undergraduate	2(5.1%)
	Postgraduate	1(2.6%)
Participating Clinic	MRC	20 (37%)	0
	SMC	12 (22.2%)
	HHC	10 (18.5%)
	HMC	6 (11.1%)
	DGP	6 (11.1%)

A summary of the characteristics of the healthcare professionals is shown in Table 11. As shown in the Table, more than two thirds of the healthcare professionals were males (78.8%) and the rest were females (21.1%). Approximately half of the healthcare professionals (47.2%) were in the age range of 41-50 years and 45.3% were in the age range of 51-60 years. More than two thirds of the healthcare professionals (73.6%) were doctors and 24.5% of them were nurses and one Dietician. More than two thirds of the healthcare professionals (70.7%) spent at least 25 years in practice.

Table 11: A summary of the characteristics of the healthcare professionals

Variables	Categories	Frequency (percentage)	Missing Data
Sex	Male	41 (78.8%)	2
	Female	11 (21.2%)
Age Range:	21-30	3 (5.7%)	1
	41-50	25 (47.2%)
	51-60	24 (45.3%)
	61 or older	1 (1.9%)
Job Type	Doctor	39 (73.6%)	1
	Nurse	13 (24.5%)
	Dietician	1(1.9%)
Years in practice	1 year	3 (5.9%)	3
	2 years	6 (11.8%)
	5 years	1 (2%)
	16 years	1 (2%)
	20 years	3 (5.9%)
	24 years	1 (2%)
	25 years	14 (27.5%)
	26 years	1 (2%)
	27 years	12 (23.5%)
	28 years	8 (15.7%)
	40 years	1 (2%)
Is there a nurse in the practice?	Yes	29 (67.4%)	11
	No	14 (32.6%)