Attitudes of Mental Health Service Users Toward Storage and Use of Electronic Health Records

Abstract

Objective: Electronic health records (EHRs) are used for both clinical practice and research. Because mental health service users are underrepresented when seeking perspectives on EHR use, the authors examined service users' awareness, attitudes, and opinions about EHR data storage and sharing.Methods: A mixed-methods, cross-sectional design was used to examine 253 Norwegian mental health service users who were recruited online to complete a quantitative and qualitative (free-text) survey about EHR utilization.Results: Most participants were aware that EHRs were stored (95%) and shared (58%). Most thought that patients benefited from storing EHRs (84%), trusted authorities about EHR sharing (71%), were willing to share records to help others (75%), felt they benefited from sharing (75%), and thought EHR sharing was ethical for health care and research (71%). Fewer were aware of record sharing for research (36%), and 62% were aware that shared data were anonymized. Of the participants, 69% recognized privacy risks associated with sharing. Lack of transparency and skepticism about anonymization as well as misuse of data were concerns and perceived risks. Overall, mental health service users thought that EHRs should be shared for policy development (81%), education and training (85%), improving care quality (89%), research (91%), and clinical decision support (81%). Highlights• Health care authorities use electronic health records (EHRs) for clinical practice and research, including enhancing quality of care, improving access to care, providing more efficient service delivery, and producing better clinical outcomes.• Mental health service users are underrepresented in providing their perspectives on EHR use, and information about their opinions toward EHR use is limited.• Knowledge about service users' awareness and attitudes toward EHR use should be a part of clinical practice and research planning.• This study's findings indicate that mental health service users support EHR use for improving patient care and research.

Investigation of efficiency level during the clinical work of the Electronic Health Record users in the General Health System of Cyprus

“…Similar ndings are also reported in a sample of primary care doctors in Malaysia, where the expected improvement in the e ciency of doctors as PC users related to previous knowledge in relation to it is con rmed (33). Similarly, Norwegian mental health practitioners who participated in a mixed survey perceive that through EHR they become more e cient (34). This fact is also con rmed in a related study that involved primary care clinicians (28).…”

Usability of the IDDEAS prototype in child and adolescent mental health services: A qualitative study for clinical decision support system development

“…It is also important to acknowledge that the guideline functionality serves as only one component of the overall functionality of (39). Our results reaffirm that as CAMHS in Norway depend on information coming from other services (i.e., educational and psychological counseling service, and the primary care provider), it is important to ensure the available patient information not only covers their current health status but also any previous care received from other social, school and health services (39,40). This close collaboration provides the opportunity for customized guideline suggestions and availability of information about involved services, while also allowing early identification of risks.…”

“…As reported by Sutton et al (13), diagnostic support based on patient data can be an advantage while also prove potentially harmful if users' distrust what is provided by the CDSS. Graphical displays of statistics, access to scientific literature, and references to local EHR patient data patterns were all mentioned as examples of potential future design factors that help reassure clinicians of the CDSS trustworthiness while keeping the clinician as the main decision-maker (40).…”