Nguyen, Q.  (2012). The views and expectations of young healthy adults about using an online personal health record. McGill Family Medicine Studies Online, 07: e04.    Archived by WebCite^®   

at http://www.webcitation.org/696dPpQO2.

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Personal health records (PHRs) are tools that allow individuals
to access, share and manage their health information online. PHRs have received
considerable interest and investment in recent years, because they are thought to
have the potential to promote patient self-management and greater involvement in
their own care. Despite apparent public interest and a proliferation of available
options, adoption rates remain low. There is a gap in our understanding as to why
people are choosing to use or not use PHRs, and what different populations of
users might want from such a tool. In particular, young adults could be a potential
group to target with preventative strategies using a PHR, since technology is
much more integrated in their everyday life.

OBJECTIVE: This qualitative descriptive study therefore aimed to explore the
views and expectations of young healthy adults about using an online personal
health record.

METHODS: Four focus groups were conducted with a total of 29 participants
(18-34 years old) from a community setting in Montreal, Canada. Interviews were
transcribed and analyzed with inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS: With respect to how young adults viewed PHRs, three broad themes
were identified: perceived advantages to using a PHR; future PHR users; and
concerns about PHRs. In terms of what they themselves expected from using a
PHR, different themes were elaborated: characteristics of an “ideal” PHR; using
the PHR for preventative health; taking more control over their health; and
making the PHR worthwhile. A conceptual framework of factors influencing
expectations of PHR use in this population is proposed.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that what young adults perceive as
benefits of a PHR may not be the same things that motivate them to actually use a
PHR. The results emphasize the fact that more research is needed to understand
the expectations and anticipated use of different populations in designing a
patient-centered tool. The proposed framework can be used as a basis and tested
in future research on PHR adoption.