Personal health records: a randomized trial of effects on elder medication safety.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To examine the impact of a personal health record (PHR) on medication-use safety among older adults.

Background

Online PHRs have potential as tools to manage health information. We know little about how to make PHRs accessible for older adults and what effects this will have.

Methods

A PHR was designed and pretested with older adults and tested in a 6-month randomized controlled trial. After completing mailed baseline questionnaires, eligible computer users aged 65 and over were randomized 3:1 to be given access to a PHR (n=802) or serve as a standard care control group (n=273). Follow-up questionnaires measured change from baseline medication use, medication reconciliation behaviors, and medication management problems.

Results

Older adults were interes

SUBMITTER: Chrischilles EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4078278 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul-Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature