Sumithra Velupillai
Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Omran Ibrahim
Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Maria Kvist
Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden/Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics (LIME), Karolinska Institute, Sweden
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Published in: Scandinavian Conference on Health Informatics 2013; Copenhagen; Denmark; August 20; 2013
Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 91:23, p. 95-95
Published: 2013-08-21
ISBN: 978-91-7519-518-6
ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)
As part of the ongoing shift in health policy; with focus on patient empowerment; the Swedish government prioritizes the patients’ access to their medical records. Different models for personal health records (PHR) are suggested.
Studies have shown difficulties for patients when navigating and understanding the information in their records. Electronic health record systems are physician-oriented and do not include patient-oriented functions. One problem with medical records is that they contain a lot of data which is usually kept as unstructured text in narrative form; this information overload needs to be structured and presented in a manner that patients understand. Furthermore; in order for the PHR to be a supporting tool for patients; there is a need to identify which key functions should be implemented to support patients. Usage of PHR is highly dependent on the information offered and that functions available meet patient needs. In Sweden; little research has been conducted regarding PHR functions referred by patients. This study addresses the research question “Which PHR functions are preferred by patients living in Sweden?”.
