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A survey of validity and utility of electronic patient records in a general practice.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To develop methods of measuring the validity and utility of electronic patient records in general practice. DESIGN:A survey of the main functional areas of a practice and use of independent criteria to measure the validity of the practice database. SETTING:A fully computerised general practice in Skipton, north Yorkshire. SUBJECTS:The records of all registered practice patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Validity of the main functional areas of the practice clinical system. Measures of the completeness, accuracy, validity, and utility of the morbidity data for 15 clinical diagnoses using recognised diagnostic standards to confirm diagnoses and identify further cases. Development of a method and statistical toolkit to validate clinical databases in general practice. RESULTS:The practice electronic patient records were valid, complete, and accurate for prescribed items (99.7%), consultations (98.1%), laboratory tests (100%), hospital episodes (100%), and childhood immunisations (97%). The morbidity data for 15 clinical diagnoses were complete (mean sensitivity=87%) and accurate (mean positive predictive value=96%). The presence of the Read codes for the 15 diagnoses was strongly indicative of the true presence of those conditions (mean likelihood ratio=3917). New interpretations of descriptive statistics are described that can be used to estimate both the number of true cases that are unrecorded and quantify the benefits of validating a clinical database for coded entries. CONCLUSION:This study has developed a method and toolkit for measuring the validity and utility of general practice electronic patient records.

SUBMITTER: Hassey A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC32256 | biostudies-literature | 2001 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A survey of validity and utility of electronic patient records in a general practice.

Hassey A A Gerrett D D Wilson A A

BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 20010601 7299

<h4>Objective</h4>To develop methods of measuring the validity and utility of electronic patient records in general practice.<h4>Design</h4>A survey of the main functional areas of a practice and use of independent criteria to measure the validity of the practice database.<h4>Setting</h4>A fully computerised general practice in Skipton, north Yorkshire.<h4>Subjects</h4>The records of all registered practice patients.<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>Validity of the main functional areas of the pract ...[more]

PMID: 11397747

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Project description:BackgroundRoutine weight recording in electronic health records (EHRs) could assist general practitioners (GPs) in the identification, prevention, and management of overweight patients. However, the extent to which weight management is embedded in general practice in the Netherlands has not been investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of weight recording in general practice in the Netherlands for patients who self-reported as being overweight. The specific objectives of this study were to assess whether weight recording varied according to patient characteristics, and to determine the frequency of weight recording over time for patients with and without a chronic condition related to being overweight.MethodsBaseline data from the Occupational and Environmental Health Cohort Study (2012) were combined with data from EHRs of general practices (2012-2015). Data concerned 3446 self-reported overweight patients who visited their GP in 2012, and 1516 patients who visited their GP every year between 2012 and 2015. Logistic multilevel regression analyses were performed to identify associations between patient characteristics and weight recording.ResultsIn 2012, weight was recorded in the EHRs of a quarter of patients who self-reported as being overweight. Greater age, lower education level, higher self-reported body mass index, and the presence of diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and/or cardiovascular disorders were associated with higher rates of weight recording. The strongest association was found for diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR = 10.3; 95% CI [7.3, 14.5]). Between 2012 and 2015, 90% of patients with diabetes mellitus had at least one weight measurement recorded in their EHR. In the group of patients without a chronic condition related to being overweight, this percentage was 33%.ConclusionsWeight was frequently recorded for overweight patients with a chronic condition, for whom regular weight measurement is recommended in clinical guidelines, and for which weight recording is a performance indicator as part of the payment system. For younger patients and those without a chronic condition related to being overweight, weight was less frequently recorded. For these patients, routine recording of weight in EHRs deserves more attention, with the aim to support early recognition and treatment of overweight.

Project description:BackgroundInternationally, there is a movement toward providing patients a Web-based access to their electronic health records (EHRs). In Sweden, Region Uppsala was the first to introduce patient-accessible EHRs (PAEHRs) in 2012. By the summer of 2016, 17 of 21 county councils had given citizens Web-based access to their medical information. Studies on the effect of PAEHRs on the work environment of health care professionals have been conducted, but up until now, few extensive studies have been conducted regarding patients' experiences of using PAEHRs in Sweden or Europe, more generally.ObjectiveThe objective of our study was to investigate patients' experiences of accessing their EHRs through the Swedish national patient portal. In this study, we have focused on describing user characteristics, usage, and attitudes toward the system.MethodsA national patient survey was designed, based on previous interview and survey studies with patients and health care professionals. Data were collected during a 5-month period in 2016. The survey was made available through the PAEHR system, called Journalen, in Sweden. The total number of patients that logged in and could access the survey during the study period was 423,141. In addition to descriptive statistics reporting response frequencies on Likert scale questions, Mann-Whitney tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, and chi-square tests were used to compare answers between different county councils as well as between respondents working in health care and all other respondents.ResultsOverall, 2587 users completed the survey with a response rate of 0.61% (2587/423,141). Two participants were excluded from the analysis because they had only received care in a county council that did not yet show any information in Journalen. The results showed that 62.97% (1629/2587) of respondents were women and 39.81% (1030/2587) were working or had been working in health care. In addition, 72.08% (1794/2489) of respondents used Journalen about once a month, and the main reason for use was to gain an overview of one's health status. Furthermore, respondents reported that lab results were the most important information for them to access; 68.41% (1737/2539) of respondents wanted access to new information within a day, and 96.58% (2454/2541) of users reported that they are positive toward Journalen.ConclusionsIn this study, respondents provided several important reasons for why they use Journalen and why it is important for them to be able to access information in this way-several related to patient empowerment, involvement, and security. Considering the overall positive attitude, PAEHRs seem to fill important needs for patients.

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Project description:BackgroundHypertension is the most common condition seen in Australian general practice. Despite hypertension being amenable to lifestyle modifications and pharmacological treatment, only around half of these patients have controlled blood pressure levels (< 140/90 mmHg), placing them at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.ObjectiveWe aimed to estimate the health and acute hospitalisation costs of uncontrolled hypertension among patients attending general practice.MethodsWe used population data and electronic health records from 634,000 patients aged 45-74 years who regularly attended an Australian general practice between 2016 and 2018 (MedicineInsight database). An existing worksheet-based costing model was adapted to calculate the potential cost savings for acute hospitalisation of primary cardiovascular disease events by reducing the risk of a cardiovascular event over the next 5 years through improved systolic blood pressure control. The model estimated the number of expected cardiovascular disease events and associated acute hospital costs under current levels of systolic blood pressure and compared this estimate with the expected number of cardiovascular disease events and costs under different levels of systolic blood pressure control.ResultsThe model estimated that across all Australians aged 45-74 years who visit their general practitioner (n = 8.67 million), 261,858 cardiovascular disease events can be expected over the next 5 years at current systolic blood pressure levels (mean 137.8 mmHg, standard deviation = 12.3 mmHg), with a cost of AUD$1813 million (in 2019-20). By reducing the systolic blood pressure of all patients with a systolic blood pressure greater than 139 mmHg to 139 mmHg, 25,845 cardiovascular disease events could be avoided with an associated reduction in acute hospital costs of AUD$179 million. If systolic blood pressure is lowered further to 129 mmHg for all those with systolic blood pressure greater than 129 mmHg, 56,169 cardiovascular disease events could be avoided with potential cost savings of AUD$389 million. Sensitivity analyses indicate that potential cost savings range from AUD$46 million to AUD$1406 million and AUD$117 million to AUD$2009 million for the two scenarios, respectively. Cost savings by practice range from AUD$16,479 for small practices to AUD$82,493 for large practices.ConclusionsThe aggregate cost effects of poor blood pressure control in primary care are high, but cost implications at the individual practice level are modest. The potential cost savings improve the potential to design cost-effective interventions, but such interventions may be best targeted at a population level rather than at individual practices.

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A survey of validity and utility of electronic patient records in a general practice.

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A survey of validity and utility of electronic patient records in a general practice.

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