Patient engagement or information overload: Patient and physician views on sharing the medical record in the acute setting

11Citations
Citations of this article
42Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Background: Patient and professional views about the impact of providing full real-time access to the medical record in the in-hospital setting are unknown. Methods: Likert-scale and free-text validated questionnaire survey of physicians and patients from acute medical units in two hospitals. The questionnaire explored recent experiences; views on the formation of trust, and views on sharing either the entire medical record or a summary. Results: Two-hundred and forty-eight patient questionnaires (62% response rate) and 32 physician questionnaires (21% response rate) were returned. Twenty-seven per cent of patients did not recall being told their diagnosis. Doctors and patients differed on what practices that they believed built trust. Eighty-one per cent of patients supported the idea of having access to the full medical record (for empowerment; the right to information about oneself; as an aide-memoire for discussion). Doctors feared it might provoke anxiety and change the nature of what was written. A written lay summary record was preferred by doctors and patients. Conclusions: The current system of providing information verbally to patients is inadequate. Patients want more information and are less concerned than physicians about potential negative effects of real-time access to their records. Patient access to medical records (in both full and summary forms) should be evaluated.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Schlindwein, A., Slowther, A. M., & Fritz, D. Z. (2019). Patient engagement or information overload: Patient and physician views on sharing the medical record in the acute setting. Clinical Medicine, Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London, 19(5), 386–391. https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmed.2019-0079

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free