PERSPECTS – User perspectives on the introduction of electronic patient records: a mixed-methods study

Topic area 8: Accompanying research on the introduction of contradiction-based electronic patient records

Funding code: 01VSF25048

Application ID: VSF_TS_2024-190

Project duration: 01/2026 to 06/2029

Brief description

The introduction of the electronic patient record (ePA) was an important step towards the digitisation of the German healthcare system. With the help of the ePA, patients can securely access and manage their medical data in a centralised location. This enables better communication between patients and healthcare professionals, improves data security and makes medical care more efficient.

Although there is broad consensus in society, politics and science about the advantages of the ePA, its use and acceptance have so far fallen far short of expectations. The aim of the project is therefore to find out where and on what occasions people experience the personal benefits of the ePA, how their experiences change over time and what barriers they perceive.

To this end, user groups will first be established in which the different perspectives of users and non-users of the ePA will be recorded. Aspects that go beyond technical understanding and digital requirements will be taken into account. Evaluation criteria will be defined in the user groups and results from interviews and written surveys will be discussed. This will take place in the form of workshops and focus groups. Both the individual interviews and the surveys will be conducted again at a later date in order to gain insights into changes in usage over time. The results will be used to provide users with targeted information and assistance. For this purpose, a so-called ePA guide will be created.

The project will be funded for three and a half years with a total of approximately £1.67 million.

The results can be used to improve the usability and acceptance of the ePA. This can be done by deriving suitable communication strategies or adapting the ePA to the needs of users.

Consortium leadership

Dr Gabriele Seidel
Hannover Medical School
Institute for Epidemiology, Social Medicine and Health Systems Research
Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1
30625 Hannover

+49 511 532-8456
Seidel.gabriele@mh-hannover.de

Consortium partners

Alliance for Chronic Rare Diseases e. V.
AOK - Health Insurance Fund for Lower Saxony
Health Academy e. V.

Collaborators

Dr Gabriele Seidel
Antje Meyer
Leonard Oppermann
Franciska Hermanns