Adoption of Electronic Personal Health Records in Canada: Perceptions of Stakeholders

Int J Health Policy Manag. 2016;5(7):425–433. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2016.36

9 Pages Posted: 3 Jun 2016

See all articles by Marie-Pierre Gagnon

Marie-Pierre Gagnon

Faculty of Nursing Science, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada

Julie Payne-Gagnon

Research Centre of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada

Erik Breton

Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada

Jean-Paul Fortin

Centre de recherche sur les soins et les services de première ligne, Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada

Lara Khoury

McGill University - Faculty of Law

Lisa Dolovich

Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

David Price

Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

David Wiljer

Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Gillian Bartlett

McGill University

Norm Archer

McMaster University

Date Written: April 6, 2016

Abstract

Background Healthcare stakeholders have a great interest in the adoption and use of electronic personal health records (ePHRs) because of the potential benefits associated with them. Little is known, however, about the level of adoption of ePHRs in Canada and there is limited evidence concerning their benefits and implications for the healthcare system. This study aimed to describe the current situation of ePHRs in Canada and explore stakeholder perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators to their adoption. Methods Using a qualitative descriptive study design, we conducted semi-structured phone interviews between October 2013 and February 2014 with 35 individuals from seven Canadian provinces. The participants represented six stakeholder groups (patients, ePHR administrators, healthcare professionals, organizations interested in health technology development, government agencies, and researchers). A detailed summary of each interview was created and thematic analysis was conducted. Results We observed that there was no consensual definition of ePHR in Canada. Factors that could influence ePHR adoption were related to knowledge (confusion with other electronic medical records [EMRs] and lack of awareness), system design (usability and relevance), user capacities and attitudes (patient health literacy, education and interest, support for professionals), environmental factors (government commitment, targeted populations) and legal and ethical issues (information control and custody, confidentiality, privacy and security). Conclusion ePHRs are slowly entering the Canadian healthcare landscape but provinces do not seem well-prepared for the implementation of this type of record. Guidance is needed on critical issues regarding ePHRs, such as ePHR definition, data ownership, access to information and interoperability with other electronic health records (EHRs). Better guidance on these issues would provide a greater awareness of ePHRs and inform stakeholders including clinicians, decision-makers, patients and the public. In turn, it may facilitate their adoption in the country.

Keywords: Electronic Personal Health Record (ePHR), Adoption, Canada, Qualitative Research

Suggested Citation

Gagnon, Marie-Pierre and Payne-Gagnon, Julie and Breton, Erik and Fortin, Jean-Paul and Khoury, Lara and Dolovich, Lisa and Price, David and Wiljer, David and Bartlett, Gillian and Archer, Norm, Adoption of Electronic Personal Health Records in Canada: Perceptions of Stakeholders (April 6, 2016). Int J Health Policy Manag. 2016;5(7):425–433. doi: 10.15171/ijhpm.2016.36, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2787555

Marie-Pierre Gagnon (Contact Author)

Faculty of Nursing Science, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada ( email )

2214 Pavillon J-A. DeSeve
Quebec, Quebec G1K 7P4
Canada

Julie Payne-Gagnon

Research Centre of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada ( email )

2214 Pavillon J-A. DeSeve
Quebec, Quebec G1K 7P4
Canada

Erik Breton

Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada ( email )

2214 Pavillon J-A. DeSeve
Quebec, Quebec G1K 7P4
Canada

Jean-Paul Fortin

Centre de recherche sur les soins et les services de première ligne, Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada ( email )

Quebec City, QC
Canada

Lara Khoury

McGill University - Faculty of Law ( email )

3644 Peel Street
Montreal H3A 1W9, Quebec H3A 1W9
Canada

Lisa Dolovich

Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada ( email )

1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M4
Canada

David Price

Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada ( email )

1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M4
Canada

David Wiljer

Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada ( email )

105 St George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8
Canada

Gillian Bartlett

McGill University ( email )

1001 Sherbrooke St. W
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1G5
Canada

Norm Archer

McMaster University ( email )

1280 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4M4
Canada

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
84
Abstract Views
673
Rank
535,566
PlumX Metrics