A Qualitative study of Swedes' opinions about shared electronic health records

Elin C. Lehnbom, Andrew J. McLachlan, Jo-anne E. Brien

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference proceeding contributionpeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
10 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

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.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMEDINFO 2013
Subtitle of host publicationproceedings of the 14th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics
EditorsChristoph Ulrich Lehmann, Elske Ammenwerth, Christian Nøhr
Place of PublicationAmsterdam
PublisherIOS Press
Pages3-7
Number of pages5
ISBN (Print)9781614992882
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes
EventWorld Congress on Medical and Health Informatics (14th : 2013) - Copenhagen, Denmark
Duration: 20 Aug 201323 Aug 2013

Publication series

NameStudies in health technology and informatics
PublisherIOS Press
Volume192
ISSN (Print)0926-9630

Conference

ConferenceWorld Congress on Medical and Health Informatics (14th : 2013)
CityCopenhagen, Denmark
Period20/08/1323/08/13

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Publisher 2013. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

  • electronic health records
  • qualitative research
  • Sweden
  • health personnel
  • patients
  • attitudes

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