Citizens and Personal Health Records – the

Case of Nelson Mandela Bay

AUTHORS:

Dalenca Pottas &

Nicky Mostert-Phipps

PRESENTED BY:

Nicky Mostert-Phipps

Presentation

BackgroundResearch methodResultsConclusionQuestions

Background

Personal-Health Record (PHR): patient is owner and main user

PHR definition:• Electronic• Patient-controlled• Used for management of health information• Secure• Private

Benefits:• Better communication and sharing of information• Patient engagement

Background (continued)

Despite benefits PHR adoption lowNo data found relating to South African context

Focus:• Attitude of citizens towards maintaining personal health

records and using electronic tools to capture a personal health record.

MethodStudy design and context

Explore citizen attitudes towards maintaining personal health records and use of tools to capture an electronic personal health record

Data gathered: July & August 2012 in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipal area, South Africa

Nelson Mandela Bay: city of Port Elizabeth, the nearby towns of Uitenhage and Despatch, and the surrounding rural or agricultural areas

MethodStudy design and context (continued)

MethodQuestionnaire design and administration

Questionnaire designed to be brief18 Questions:

• Demographics• Health status• Internet access and literacy• Perceptions of the current medical record• Concerns around creating an electronic medical record

Questionnaire loaded on tabletsSeven data collectorsThirty-two data collection points (supermarket stores)Responses captured: 467

MethodLimitations

Executed in specific geographical region – limits generalizabilityGood response rate but selection bias may be presentPurpose: explore citizen views in Nelson Mandela Bay area

ResultsDemographic characteristics

GENDER

Male 49%

Female 51%

AGE

18-29 43%

30-39 23%

40-49 16%

50-59 12%

60+ 6%

HOME LANGUAGE

Afrikaans 31%

English 23%

Xhosa 42%

Other 4%

EDUCATION

High school or less 79%

Uncompleted tertiary 6%

Completed tertiary 15%

ResultsHealth status

ResultsInternet access and literacy

Access to the Internet for private use

Yes 70%

No 30%

Preferred device for Internet access for private use

PC/Laptop 43%

iPad/Tablet 1%

Cell phone/Smart phone 27%

No access 30%

Hours (online) per day for private use

Less than 1 hour 27%

1 – 3 Hours 31%

4 – 5 Hours 8%

6 Hours or more 5%

No access 30%

ResultsInternet access and literacy

Respondents’ ability to navigate the Internet:• 45% considered themselves to be ‘skilled or very skilled’ at

navigating the Internet to search for information• 47% considered themselves to be ‘skilled or very skilled’ at

uploading and downloading information• 52% considered themselves to be ‘skilled or very skilled’ at

sending emails

ResultsMedical record availability

Important for healthcare provider to have their complete medical records available and know their full medical history:• 6% important• 20% very important• 70% extremely important

Actual availability of medical records:• 42% indicated that their healthcare provider is not informed

of their full medical history and that the complete record is not available

ResultsCapturing of medical history

Mode of capturing medical history

None 69%

Paper-based 28%

PC/laptop (no Internet) 2%

Internet-based service 1%

ResultsAwareness of online Personal Health Records

PHR: Typically an online tool that allows an individual to create and manage a summary of all his health information in one convenient place. It contains information on past and current illnesses, allergies, immunizations, medications, procedures, test results, and so forth.

84% not aware of existence of such a tool

ResultsConcerns relating to the use of a PHR

Conclusion

Barriers to adoption:• Lack of awareness• Concerns relating to privacy of personal health information• Internet access and literacy

Promise for emerging mobile PHR (mPHR) marketParticipants suffering from chronic medical condition more

likely to keep record of their medical history

Any questions?

Please contact presenter: nicky.mostert@nmmu.ac.za