Evaluation of Young Adults' Preferences, Needs, and the Understandability of the Personal Health Record Data Contents

This research study examines Personal Health Records (PHRs), focusing on the issues of data contents from the end users' perspectives. The study evaluates the understandability of the Continuity of Care Record (CCR) standard terminology currently used in PHR system and explores users' preferences and needs for data contents.PHRs are becoming an increasingly important and popular means of enabling individuals to have more direct and stronger ownership and management of their health information. One of the potential barriers to the PHRs adoption is the usability of the system, particularly the fact that PHR data contents contain difficult terminology and does not meet the users' needs and preferences. A review of currently available PHR systems shows that vendors are trying to design a comprehensive PHRs primarily based on data contents from the health providers' perspectives, especially the CCR standard. However, this comprehensive data set may be neither suitable nor appealing to most individuals with a busy schedule. Therefore, this research aims at identifying the needs and preferences of the primary users of PHRs with the ultimate goal of designing a user-friendly PHR system that caters to the specific and individual needs of a healthy young adult population.  A mixed-method of qualitative and quantitative research in the form of an exploratory-descriptive study was conducted to examine the individual's needs in terms of PHR contents and terminology. Data was collected through an in-depth, semi-structured interview. Furthermore, a qualitative review study was conducted to identify each data element in the currently available free and for-purchase PHR systems and compare those with the CCR. The PHR included in this study were randomly chosen from the list of PHR tools and services available at www.myphr.com. The results of this research provide insight for PHR developers, enabling them to better design and tailor PHR technology in order to fulfill the needs and desires of each specific individual group and subgroup. A PHR system tailored to the user's individualized needs will serve to make the user feel more comfortable using and maintaining it, and then could lead to wider adoption of PHR within the population

Factors affecting seeking health-related information through the internet among patients in Kuwait

Background: The internet is a powerful worldwide communication medium that provides its users with immediate information irrespective of their location, culture, language and time. E-health service will have a great impact in reducing the costs of health care, increasing satisfaction of patients and health professionals, and minimizing the burden on health facilities.Objective: This study aims to determine the proportion of patients who obtain health-related information through the internet as well as factors that could affect using the internet for seeking health information.Subjects and methods: This study was conducted in six general hospitals in Kuwait. A cross-sectional study was adopted to determine the proportion of patients who obtain health-related information through the internet. It was followed by a case-control study to determine factors that could be associated with online search of health information. A questionnaire was used which included data related to sociodemographic characteristics, clinical history and computer experience. The final analysis included 220 participants.Results: The majority of participants (93.2%) mentioned that they have used the internet for one or more purposes. Only 129 participants (62.9%) used the internet for obtaining health related information. All studied socio-demographic factors, except age and marital state, and computer skills variables had significant effect on on-line search for health information. After adjustment for confounding, only gender, nationality, level of education, and using computer at work were proved to be significant determinants of the outcome of interest.Conclusion: It is important to close the gap in health literacy and increase the use of health information technology to support patient self-management. The creation of an eHealth-literate population should be a priority in Kuwaiti public health policy.Keywords: Health information, Seeking, Interne