Social Media Influence in the Exam Room: National Survey About Medical Testing Reveals Changing Patient Expectations
MWN-AI** Summary
A recent national survey by YouGov, commissioned by Siemens Healthineers, reveals a transformative shift in patient expectations regarding medical testing, with 93% expecting doctors to order tests upon request. The findings highlight the impact of social media on health decisions, as 17% of respondents requested tests based on information sourced from platforms like Facebook or Instagram, and 37% sought tests following personal research.
The survey, which gathered responses from 1,000 U.S. patients aged 18 and older who underwent lab testing in the last two years, indicates a growing inclination towards independent health management. Notably, 27% pursued blood tests without a doctor's recommendation, emphasizing a trend toward "do-it-yourself healthcare." While nearly half of these patients chose to keep their test results private from healthcare providers, suggesting a concerning disconnect in patient-provider communication.
Moreover, participants expressed a strong interest in predictive testing, with 89% favoring tests that can foresee health risks. Despite the perceived value of lab testing—98% find results insightful—financial constraints remain significant, with many struggling to afford essential tests. Consequently, 22% would delay other care types due to financial considerations, further complicating the landscape of patient care.
The survey also underscores the tension between patient desires for direct access to testing and the realities posed by upcoming payment cuts in laboratory services, which threaten patient access to necessary diagnostics. To bridge this gap, the findings highlight the need for a balanced approach between fulfilling patient expectations and maintaining evidence-based medical practices. As patients demand greater control over their health, healthcare providers must adapt to ensure informed and effective care.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent findings from the YouGov survey commissioned by Siemens Healthineers indicate a significant transformation in patient expectations regarding medical testing, substantially influenced by social media and the rise of DIY healthcare. With 93% of patients anticipating that doctors will order tests upon request, and 27% independently seeking blood tests, it's clear that patients are increasingly proactive in managing their health.
This trend signifies a critical opportunity for healthcare providers and laboratory services to adapt to these evolving demands. Companies that fail to recognize this shift risk losing relevance in a market where patient satisfaction hinges on their willingness to accommodate patient-initiated requests. Greater accessibility to testing—especially predictive health tests that can forecast health risks—aligns with patient desires for personalized care, indicating potential growth avenues for diagnostics firms.
However, the impending reimbursement cuts threatening lab tests present a significant concern. With anticipated payment reductions of up to 15% for numerous tests amidst already existing limitations under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act, the industry could face stagnation in innovation and service quality. This financial pressure may adversely impact laboratories’ ability to meet patient expectations, ultimately leading to dissatisfaction and disengagement among patients—and potentially driving them towards alternative, possibly less reliable, testing options.
Healthcare providers must embrace transparency and communication strategies when handling patient inquiries stemming from social media. In this dynamic environment, enhancing the intersection between direct patient engagement and clinical expertise is crucial. Additionally, investment in advocacy for legislative support like the RESULTS Act could mitigate the impact of reimbursement cuts, ensuring the sustainability and growth of laboratory services.
In conclusion, to capture the burgeoning patient demand for on-demand testing, laboratories and healthcare providers must navigate the fine line between patient autonomy and evidence-based care while advocating for equitable access to essential health services.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
Tarrytown, New York, Jan. 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --
- 93% of patients expect their doctor to order a test upon request
- 17% have requested a lab test they learned about from social media
- 27% have pursued a blood test, independent of a doctor’s recommendation
A national survey of 1,000 U.S.-based patients conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Siemens Healthineers, highlights a shift in patient expectations toward greater control over their diagnostic testing. The results show a pivot away from solely symptom-based, clinically-indicated orders toward on-demand lab testing and a greater appetite for predictive health insights.
Among adults over 18 who have had lab testing done in the past two years, 93% say they expect their doctor to order a lab test upon request.1 More than 1/3 (37%) have requested a lab test based on health-related content they learned through their own research (e.g., family, friends, or the internet), and nearly 1 in 5 patients (17%) have asked for a lab test based on information learned on social media platforms.
As to what type of testing people are interested in, the survey revealed high interest (89%) in lab testing that can predict health risks. Tests have become more accessible through self-prescribed or home testing options, though that type of access varies from state to state.2 How widely these tests are used is now clearer: 27% have pursued blood testing by a trusted lab provider out of curiosity, independent of a doctor’s recommendation. Fewer patients, 22%, have taken a self-test out of curiosity (e.g., genetic/DNA, fertility, testosterone).
Do patients trust what the doctors order?
While 95% trust their provider to order the most appropriate tests, fewer patients (87%) trust their doctor’s guidance if they advise against a requested test. The 13% who disagree underscore an evolving patient-provider dynamic that challenges doctors to carefully navigate patient expectations (i.e., patient satisfaction) while maintaining evidence-based care.
Further impact of the “do-it-yourself healthcare” phenomenon: Of people who have pursued testing out of curiosity (home testing and self-prescribed blood testing), nearly half (49%) are not sharing their results with a healthcare provider.3 Keeping health information private is not limited to test results either; 20% said they would not disclose to their doctor if they took medical advice from social media. Such patients may not even be aware that the supplements, vitamins, and dietary preferences they may think irrelevant or embarrassing to disclose could affect test results or inform how their results should be interpreted.
While a large portion of the surveyed population have taken advantage of self-prescribed or home testing out of curiosity, often paid out-of-pocket, others struggle to afford the basic tests they need to inform their care. Among nearly a third with unpaid medical bills, 52% said their debt included unpaid lab testing fees.
The perceived value of lab testing, however, is high. The data affirm patients trust in vitro diagnostic test results to provide information of value that contributes to their care decisions. Nearly all respondents (98%) say lab results provide meaningful insights into their health and 94% say they’re more likely to follow a doctor’s advice when it’s backed by test results. Patients also say they are more likely to delay other types of care when cost is a factor and they need to pay out of pocket—22% would delay imaging, whereas only 5% would delay bloodwork.
The survey report also explores:
- How accessible is testing in America?
- What motivates patients to pursue testing on their own?
- How does the cost of testing affect patients’ testing decisions and care?
The gap between patient expectations and testing realities
Lab testing reimbursement cuts threaten to widen the gulf between what patients expect and what testing providers may reasonably be able to deliver. Laboratories in the U.S. soon face payment cuts of up to 15 percent for around 800 laboratory tests.4 This is in addition to payment reductions that already have impacted 72% of commonly used laboratory tests under the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA). Laboratories caution that further cuts will stifle innovation that benefits patient care. The Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act is gaining support as a potential option to help stabilize payments for laboratory tests and preserve access to quality laboratory services.5,6
“It’s clear: patients want more control over their health and information about their health earlier,” said Michele Zwickl, head of laboratory solutions, Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers North America. “Every patient deserves access to high-quality, innovative diagnostic testing. Sustained investment in laboratory services advances personalized care and ensures that the promise of predictive health insights becomes a reality.”
1 Patient Testing in America: Insights and Trends from a National Survey | Siemens Healthineers
2 Policy Statement: Direct Access Testing | American Society for Clinical Pathology
3 Patients Are Diagnosing Themselves with Home Tests, Devices and Chatbots | Wall Street Journal
4 Stoplabcuts.org | American Clinical Laboratory Association
5 Provider Organizations Issue Letter to Congress Urging Passage of PAMA Reform Bill | 360Dx
6 2025 RESULTS Act Provider Letter | American Clinical Laboratory Association
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Siemens Healthineers pioneers breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. The company is a global provider of healthcare equipment, solutions and services, with activities in more than 180 countries and direct representation in more than 70. The group comprises Siemens Healthineers AG, listed as SHL in Frankfurt, Germany, and its subsidiaries. As a leading medical technology company, Siemens Healthineers is committed to improving access to healthcare for underserved communities worldwide and is striving to overcome the most threatening diseases. The company is principally active in the areas of imaging, diagnostics, cancer care and minimally invasive therapies, augmented by digital technology and artificial intelligence. In fiscal 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025, Siemens Healthineers had approximately 74,000 employees worldwide and generated revenue of around €23.4 billion. Further information is available at siemens-healthineers.com.
Contact Info
Kimberly Nissen
kimberly.nissen@siemens-healthineers.com
+1 610-241-2129
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FAQ**
How does the growing trend of patients seeking lab tests based on social media influence the diagnostics market for Siemens Healthineers AG SEMHF in Tarrytown, New York, as it navigates evolving consumer expectations?
What strategies is Siemens Healthineers AG SEMHF employing to address the challenges posed by payment cuts on laboratory tests and ensure sustained access to innovative diagnostic services in Tarrytown, New York?
With 49% of patients not sharing self-test results with healthcare providers, how is Siemens Healthineers AG SEMHF planning to enhance patient engagement and trust in laboratory diagnostics in Tarrytown, New York?
In the context of the RESULTS Act, how does Siemens Healthineers AG SEMHF anticipate future developments in lab testing reimbursement to impact patient access to quality laboratory services in Tarrytown, New York?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about Siemens Healthineers AG (OTC: SEMHF).
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