Perceived value and barriers to use of personal health records by patients in South Africa.
Date
2014-07-31
Authors
Erasmus, Mia Magriet.
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Context: Electronic PHR is a new concept in South Africa and there is little research of how individuals perceive PHR in South Africa. The study fills a gap in that there are no published PHR utilisation studies done in South Africa, likely due to the fact that there were very few PHR systems available before 2012.
Problem statement: Investigate the perceptions of personal health records amongst patients in South Africa. First Sub-problem: The first sub-problem is to determine the perceived value of personal health records to patients in South Africa. Second Sub-problem: The second sub-problem is to determine the perceived barriers to use of personal health records.
Method: The research methodology chosen is an online survey with analysis of the ordinal data using the Distribution-Fitting Algorithmic Approach. The research analysed a survey sent by email to registered individual users on the My Healthspace database.
Key findings: Perceived value of PHR to patients: 1) PHR had enough interactive features. 2) Respondents likely to access their PHR again. 3) Respondents want to be able to access their health records online. 4) Respondents agreed most with usefulness of access to their summary file. 5) Respondents disagreed with PHR decreasing the need to see their doctor in person. 6) Respondents wanted PHR to provide reliable health information.
Perceived barriers to use of PHR: 1) Respondents disagreed that they did not access their file online due to a lack of interest. 2) Respondents saw themselves as computer literate. 3) Respondents agreed that they have regular access to a computer or smartphone. 4) Respondents disagreed with the statement that they were worried about the security of their health information online. 5) Respondents agreed that they are happy to use an online health system as long as it is protected by a password and encryption. 6) Respondents strongly disagreed with paying a monthly fee for access to their online health records. 7) Respondents disagreed that advertisers should be able to target a specific group with adverts.
Conclusion: In conclusion the survey confirmed some of the findings in international research with regards to patient- perceptions about PHR such as respondents desire to have access to their medical information online and for PHRs to provide reliable health information. Similar to other studies it found that patients do not want to pay for access to a PHR.
It differed from the international literature in that patients disagreed with the value of PHR reducing the need to see their doctor in person. This survey also did not demonstrate a lack of trust in the privacy of information as a barrier to use of PHRs.
Description
MBA 2014
Keywords
Medical records -- Data processing,Medical informatics .