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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Jinnet B. Fowles, PhD1, Allan C. Kind, MD2, Cheryl Craft, RN1, Elizabeth A. Kind, MS, RN1, and Susan A. Adlis, MS1. (1) Health Research Center, Park Nicollet Institute, 3800 Park Nicollet Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55416, (2) Administration, Park Nicollet Health Services, 3800 Park Nicollet Blvd, Minneapolis, MN 55416
Study Design: A cross-sectional sample of 4500 adults who had at least one encounter with a multispecialty clinic in Minnesota during April, 2001 were mailed a survey to assess their interest in reading their medical record. The primary outcome is the level of patients’ interest in examining their medical records. Co-variates include health status, health care utilization, relationship with primary physician, use of the Internet as a source of health information, use of other sources of health information, having examined their medical record previously, concern about errors in their record, knowledge of their legal right to access their record, and sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, race, ethnicity, educational level).
Data Collection Methods: Following a pre-notification letter, the questionnaire was mailed with a $2.00 incentive. A reminder postcard was mailed one week after the survey was distributed. Two weeks later another copy of the questionnaire was mailed to non-respondents. Two weeks after that, a third questionnaire was mailed.
Results: The response rate was 80%. Thirty-six percent were very interested in reading their own medical record. Factors significantly related to interest in reading the medical record were importance of the Internet as a source of health information; have health newsletter subscription; recent use of health resource book; being very concerned about errors at the physician’s office; lacking trust in their physician; having looked at their record previously; being female; and being non-white. Health status, health care utilization, income level and educational level were not related to interest in examining the medical record.
The most common reasons for wanting to look at their medical record were to be more involved in their health care, to see what their physician said about them, to make sure it was complete, and to understand their condition better. Only 11% strongly agreed that their physician would think it was a good idea for them to read their medical record.
Another finding for those with interest in reading their medical record is an interest in communicating with their physician/clinic by e-mail.
Conclusions: Many different patients are interested in examining their medical record. They have an interest in learning about health via the Internet or other sources. They have a desire to be more involved in their care. Thus, encouraging patients to review their medical record may increase patient involvement in their health and improve their relationship with their physician.
Primary Funding Source: Tankawa, Inc.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to
Keywords: Patient Perspective, Medical Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Handout (.PPT format, 122.5 kb)