title: Consumer attitudes toward personal health records in a beacon community.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize consumers' attitudes about personal health records (PHRs), electronic tools that enable consumers to securely access, manage, and share their health information, in a community participating in health information technology initiatives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random-digit-dial telephone survey about PHRs was conducted among adult residents of New York State's greater Buffalo region. Multivariate regression analyses identified factors associated with potential PHR use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We obtained a 79% (n = 200) response rate. Many respondents (70%) would potentially use PHRs. Consumers wanted PHRs to incorporate an array of information, including immunization records (89%) and providers visited (88%). They expressed interest in several online activities, including accessing their family members' healthcare information (71%). Potential PHR use was associated with perceptions that PHRs would improve privacy and security of medical information (odds ratio [OR] 4.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1, 20.1), understanding regarding health (OR 3.7; 95% CI 1.3, 11.1), and overall quality of care (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.2, 10.6). Potential PHR use was associated with annual household income of more than $30,000 (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.3, 11.9) and experience looking up health information online (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.1, 8.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consumers expressed great interest in using PHRs and wanted comprehensive PHRs. However, the "digital divide" between those with varying levels of Internet experience and concerns about PHRs’ effect on privacy and security of medical information may limit use. Designing PHRs that incorporate consumer preferences and developing policies that address these barriers may increase consumers' PHR use.
authors.affiliation: Division of Quality and Medical Informatics, Department of Pediatrics & Public Health, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA. vap2005@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Vaishali N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abramson
authors.forename: Alison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: Rina V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Dhopeshwarkar
authors.forename: Rainu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaushal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003256:Community Participation; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013689:Telephone; D055815:Young Adult