Consumer experience with and attitudes toward health information technology: a nationwide survey

Electronic health records (EHR) are becoming more common because of the federal EHR incentive programme, which is also promoting electronic health information exchange (HIE). To determine whether consumers' attitudes toward EHR and HIE are associated with experience with doctors using EHR, a nationwide random-digit-dial survey was conducted in December 2011. Of 1603 eligible people contacted, 1000 (63%) participated. Most believed EHR and HIE would improve healthcare quality (66% and 79%, respectively). Respondents whose doctor had an EHR were more likely to believe that these technologies would improve quality (for EHR, OR 2.3; for HIE, OR 1.7). However, experience with physicians using EHR was not associated with privacy concerns. Consumers whose physicians use EHR were more likely to believe that EHR and HIE will improve healthcare when compared to others. However, experience with a physician using an EHR had no relationship with privacy concerns.