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Survey: Few patients know about PHRs
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted April 18, 2011
A recent survey by IDC Health Insights may help explain why so few people use personal health record systems. They've never heard of them.
IDC surveyed 1,200 consumers in February and asked them about their PHR use. They found that only 7% of consumers used them, and 51% had never been exposed to the idea of using a PHR. The report said barriers to PHR adoption include a lack of pre-populated data; concerns about portability if they change physicians, employers or health plans; privacy concerns; and physicians not recommending the use of PHRs.
The report's authors say patient-centered medical homes and accountable-care models should encourage physicians to recommend PHR use to their patients to better manage their health.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/04/18/bibf0418.htm.
