All patients, particularly minorities and less educated, benefit from a physician sharing the notes of outpatient visits, according to a study in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.
The study evaluated 29,656 patients at three large U.S. health systems in Boston, Seattle and rural Pennsylvania to determine the experience and perceptions of patients who read visit notes. Those included in the study used portal accounts and had at least one visit note available in a 12-month period.
Of the 22,947 patients who reported to reading one or more visit notes, 75 percent said they referenced the notes for more than one year. Around 37.7 percent of patients shared their notes with someone.
Patients also rated note reading as a very important task for helping take care of their health, feeling in control of their care and remembering the care plan. Only 3.3 percent of patients were confused after reading physician notes, and 4.8 percent were more worried
Less educated, nonwhite, older and Hispanic patients as well as patients who do not speak English at home are the most likely to report major benefits from note reading, the study concluded.
Close to all of the respondents (98.5 percent) said online access to visit notes is a good idea.
To access the complete study, click here.
More articles on patient engagement:
Therapy dogs ease distress in ED wait rooms
Allegheny Health Network posts physician ratings online
Johns Hopkins All Children's sends 'Survivor Day' invite to family who lost son to cancer