Perceptions of Primary Care Notes by Patients With Mental Health Diagnoses

The Article in Brief

Perceptions of Primary Care Notes by Patients With Mental Health Diagnoses

Joann G. Elmore , and colleagues

Background A significant proportion of mental health care is delivered in the primary care setting, where medical records, including clinical notes, are increasingly available to patients via secure online portals. However, there are lingering concerns about sharing clinic notes with patients with mental health diagnoses. This study compares perceptions of patients with and without a mental health diagnosis regarding access to primary care clinic notes.

What This Study Found Primary care patients with mental health diagnoses are as enthusiastic about the utility of viewing their doctors' notes as other patients. A survey of 2,534 patients (400 with mental health diagnoses and 2,134 without) who had read at least one online doctor's note found that patients saw similar benefits in access to the notes, regardless of mental health status. Ninety-two percent of patients in both groups reported that access to doctors' notes would help them feel in control of their health care and help them understand their health and medical conditions. High percentages of both groups also reported they would take better care of themselves, be more prepared for doctor visits, and would more likely take medications as prescribed as a result of access to doctors' notes.

Implications

• In spite of lingering concerns about whether patients with mental illness should have access to their online medical records, the authors suggest that providing such access to all patients might contribute to greater adherence and trust and could potentially help destigmatize mental illness.
• The authors call for a fuller understanding of risks and benefits of online note access in patients with mental health conditions and interventions to mitigate potential adverse effects of this new tool.