A BMJ open study found patients who read their physicians' visit notes online are more satisfied with their healthcare and better informed, according to Medscape.
Researchers analyzed 576 free-text answers from patients answering surveys, as well as interviewed 13 patients face-to-face.
Here are six highlights:
1. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act gives U.S. patients the right to access their medical records. However, patients often have difficulty accessing the records, which also may be pricey.
2. The study found patients access notes frequently and want to continue viewing their records.
3. Those patients who read notes frequently report positive experiences and more engagement.
4. Frequent note readers also reported the notes were useful for refreshing their memory and understanding health information.
5. Respondents also reported the notes facilitated greater trust, better management of their medications and a better sense of control.
6. The study's authors understand their conclusions may be biased and limited, since the patients were from a single health system who registered on secure electronic portals.
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