A qualitative study of Swedes' opinions about shared electronic health records.
European countries are world-leading in the development and implementation of e-Health. In Sweden, all primary healthcare centres and most hospitals use digital records. Some regions use the same software which allows for clinical information to be shared (regionally shared EHRs), but there is a movement towards making all EHRs inter-operable to allow for a National Patient Summary (NPS). The aim of this study was to explore the opinions of Swedish consumers and health professionals about shared EHRs and the NPS. Semi-structered phone interviews were conducted with consumers and health professionals. The majority of interviewed health professionals were currently using regionally shared EHRs. In their experience, having access to regionally shared EHRs facilitated a holistic patient approach, assisted in patient follow-up, and reduced inappropriate (over)prescribing. Consumers had a poor level of knowledge about shared EHRs and the NPS. Unlike health professionals, consumers perceived a NPS to be of great value. The findings indicate that there was a discrepancy between health professionals and consumers' knowledge of, and the perceived need for, a NPS.
Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Elin C
EC
Lehnbom
Andrew J
AJ
McLachlan
Jo-anne E
JA
Brien
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008498:Medical Record Linkage; D008875:Middle Aged; D011639:Public Opinion; D013548:Sweden