Factors influencing electronic personal health record (ePHR) adoption by Primary Health Care providers in Quebec: Professional and organizational perspective

Abstract

We aimed to describe and analyse the factors and conditions influencing ePHR adoption by primary healthcare professionals for the follow-up and management of chronic diseases, as perceived by healthcare professionals and health organization managers. A qualitative study was conducted in the context of an ePHR experimentation project in Quebec. In-depth semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 11 professionals and three managers directly involved in ePHR implementation in a primary healthcare organization. The results highlight the emergence of themes comprising facilitators or barriers to ePHR adoption. The main factors identified were the clinicians' leadership and previous involvement in organizational transformations, the context of practice, technology maturity providing a useful, additional and relevant content, integration with the available clinical information systems facilitating two-way communication and supporting the development of patient-professional partnerships and patients' use and adherence. The organizational precursors identified refer to the organizational receptivity to change, adjustment to participants' values, and the policies and practices set up to support ePHR adoption by professionals and their patients. Cost is a major issue determining ePHR implementation. The factors and conditions identified will be useful strategically and operationally to design and implement new clinical and organizational practices and develop adapted technologies facilitating ePHR adoption by professionals.