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Physicians could play role in patient use of health records
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 4, 2011
Personal health records are still a technology few have been exposed to, according to a consumer survey by IDC Health Insights.
The survey of 1,200 people conducted online in February found that only 7% had used a PHR, a number unchanged since 2006. The leading reason for not using the technology is that they had never been exposed to it (50.6% in 2011 and 51.9% in 2006). The survey found that of those who have been exposed to PHRs, their preferred sources were hospital or physician websites (25%) and health plan websites (21.4%).
The survey also found that physicians could play a role in their patients' acceptance of the technology. More than 35% of respondents who use a PHR say they do so because it was recommended by their physician or other clinician, and 13.5% said they would use one if their physician recommended it.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/07/04/bibf0704.htm.