David Wiljer|Kevin J. Leonard|Sara Urowitz|Emma Apatu|Christine Massey|Naa Kwarley Quartey|Pamela Catton
The anxious wait: assessing the impact of patient accessible EHRs for breast cancer patients
University of Toronto|University of Toronto|Princess Margaret Cancer Centre|University Health Network|Emory University|Princess Margaret Cancer Centre|University Health Network|Princess Margaret Cancer Centre|University Health Network|Princess Margaret Cancer Centre|University Health Network
personal health records phrs provide patients access personal health information phi targeted education use phrs potential improve wide range outcomes including empowering patients active participants care number widespread barriers adoption including privacy security considerations addition clinical concerns patients could become anxious distressed accessing complex medical information study assesses implementation phr impact anxiety levels perceptions selfefficacy sample breast cancer patientsa quasiexperimental pretestposttest design used collect data participants evaluate use phr study participants completed background preassessment questionnaires registered portal entering activation key participants able review lab results diagnostic imaging reports six weeks participants completed postassessment questionnaires usability heuristics data collected using online survey tool data cleaned analyzed using sas v91a total 311 breast cancer patients completed demographic preassessment questionnaires 250 registered use online intervention 125 participants completed required study elements matching pre postanxiety scores demonstrated decrease mean anxiety scores 22 p 003 chemotherapy subgroup statistically insignificant mean increase 18 p 14 mean change selfefficacy scoresparticipants generally found portal easy use however perceived value improved participation detected selfefficacy scores access personal health information increase anxiety levels results suggest use phr may benefit informing patients research required investigate impact patients experiences participation care relationships health care team health outcomes