An article over at the American Medical Association (AMA) states that patients are more likely to use Personal Health Records (PHRs) if the patient’s doctor recommends it.
The California HealthCare Foundation commissioned a study in which researchers talked to people who use PHRs as well as people who don’t. Nonusers made up 89% of the 1,864 respondents (the rest didn’t know or refused to answer). The report, “Consumers and Health Information Technology: A National Survey,” found that the biggest barrier to PHR use is privacy concerns, cited by 75% of non-PHR users. Many respondents expressed fears that their medical information could be used against them by insurers or employers, both of which are pushing for PHR adoption.
Meanwhile, 58% said they might be interested in a PHR from a hospital or physician with whom they already have a relationship. Fifty-two percent said they might be persuaded to use a PHR if a doctor said it was safe, while 50% said they would use a PHR if a friend or family member said it was safe.
Patients had a higher trust level for PHRs that came from their provider or their doctor.
What is interesting is that PHRs were defined in light of patient portals from physician’s EMRs.
Although PHRs have been defined as electronic filing cabinets to store personal health information, they are evolving into larger patient portals tethered to a physician’s electronic medical record system and offering benefits beyond data storage. Integrated PHRs allow patients to look up lab and test results, communicate with physicians electronically and request prescription refills online, and offer other convenience features that patients increasingly are demanding.
Of respondents who use PHRs, 26% said they were using one offered by a physician. Another 51% said they were using one owned by their health plan. Only 4% used an employer-issued PHR.
There seems to be a mistrust for PHRs that are offered by employers.
Colin Evans, CEO of Dossia, a PHR offered by a large employer consortium whose members include Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said he was not surprised that employer-sponsored PHRs were at the bottom of the list. “I think the question that tends to lead in people’s minds is who do they trust with their data,” he said.
With an adoption rate of only 7% of all users, PHRs have a long way to go. It will be interesting to see which PHRs do the best; physician patient portals, employer sponsored PHRs, insurers sponsored PHRs or Google, Microsoft, etc. PHRs.
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