The personal health future

Abstract

Despite several personal health record (PHR) product offerings from major technology sector players over the past years, the notion of tracking and maintaining one׳s personal health information electronically has failed to takeoff among consumers. Accordingly, we explore factors potentially shaping use of PHR applications. Adopting a qualitative interview approach, we examine underlying potential end-user motivations that might drive use of PHRs, focusing on two prominent market solutions in addition to the notion of a generic electronic personal health record. Our work reveals that relevance, or the utility, of PHRs may present a major challenge to widespread adoption of such systems as potential end-users struggle to see benefits. Furthermore, despite favorable perceptions of system and service quality, potential users lack the requisite trust in vendors and see significant risk in storing personal health information with such firms.