title: Patient perspectives on a personally controlled electronic health record used in regional Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Personally controlled electronic health records (PCEHRs) are being implemented throughout Australia; yet few studies have investigated patients' experiences of using a PCEHR.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore patients' experiences and perspectives of using a locally developed PCEHR implemented in an Australian health service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients completed individual semi-structured telephone interviews, which underwent inductive analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants described two main interdependent advantages of PCEHRs: improved quality of healthcare through better information sharing and enhanced patient capacity for self-management. To realise these advantages, widespread acceptance and use of PCEHRs by healthcare providers is required, and PCEHRs need to be simple to use and accessible.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCEHRs can produce tangible benefits for patients. However, maximum benefits will be realised when PCEHRs contain a complete collection of relevant health information and are carefully designed for easy use.
authors.affiliation: 1 Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.affiliation: 2 Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: 1 Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Newstead
authors.affiliation: 1 Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.affiliation: 1 Deakin University, Australia.
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Osborne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D001315:Australia; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D055991:Health Records, Personal; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033283:Patient Access to Records; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012648:Self Care
keywords: My Health Record; consumer health information; consumer participation; eHealth; electronic health record; electronic medical record; medical records; patient participation; personal health information; personal health records; personally controlled electronic health records