COMMUNICATION GAPS BETWEEN LABORATORY AND CLINICAL DEPARTMENTS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY AT A TERTIARY MILITARY HOSPITAL

Abstract

1.2           Background

Effective communication between clinical and laboratory departments is fundamental to patient safety and the quality of diagnostic services. Communication failures along the laboratory-clinical interface — spanning test ordering, specimen management, result interpretation, and critical value notification — contribute substantially to diagnostic errors and delayed care. Despite growing recognition of this problem, evidence from tertiary military hospital settings remains limited.

1.3           Objective

To identify and characterize the nature, frequency, and perceived root causes of communication gaps between laboratory and clinical departments at a tertiary military hospital, and to determine staff-level and organizational predictors of poor communication effectiveness.

1.4           Methods

A cross-sectional survey study was conducted between January and April 2024 at a tertiary military hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A validated, self-administered questionnaire comprising 38 items across six communication domains was distributed to all eligible clinical staff (physicians, residents, and nurses) and laboratory personnel (medical laboratory scientists, technicians, and supervisors). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U tests for inter-group comparisons, and binary logistic regression to identify independent predictors of communication gaps.

1.5           Results

A total of 222 participants responded (response rate 82.5%): 170 clinical staff and 52 laboratory personnel. Significant perception gaps were identified across all six communication domains (all p < 0.001). Laboratory staff consistently reported higher satisfaction with communication processes (overall mean 3.6 ± 0.4) compared with clinical staff (2.6 ± 0.6). The most critically rated domains by clinical staff were specimen handling information (mean 2.2) and result interpretation clarity (2.4). Lack of shared protocols (72.4%), inadequate feedback mechanisms (67.6%), and high workload (61.2%) were the most commonly reported barriers. On logistic regression, staff category (OR 4.82), presence of shared protocols (OR 0.31), and LIS/HIS integration adequacy (OR 0.42) were the strongest independent predictors of communication gap occurrence.

1.6           Conclusion

Substantial and statistically significant communication gaps exist between laboratory and clinical departments at this tertiary military hospital, with discordant perceptions between the two professional groups. Targeted interventions — including shared communication protocols, joint interdisciplinary training, and improved information technology integration — are urgently needed to bridge these gaps and enhance patient safety outcomes.