Enabling Adolescent Electronic Access to Personal Health Information

Area of Science:

• Health Law and Policy
• Digital Health
• Adolescent Health

Background:

• Canadian individuals possess rights to personal health information (PHI).
• Expanding use of digital health solutions necessitates understanding adolescent access to PHI.
• The legal and practical application of adolescent rights to PHI requires clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the application of personal health information (PHI) rights for individuals under the age of majority in Canada.
• To explore adolescent electronic access to personal health information (PHI).
• To inform policy and practice regarding minors' digital health information rights.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a privacy legal framework review.
• Performed an environmental scan and literature review.
• Executed a pan-Canadian survey and focus groups with adolescents.

Main Results:

• Analysis of the legal framework governing adolescent access to PHI.
• Identification of current trends and gaps in adolescent digital health engagement.
• Gathering of adolescent perspectives on accessing their health information electronically.

Conclusions:

• Understanding adolescent rights to personal health information (PHI) is crucial with increasing digital health use.
• The study provides insights into the legal and practical landscape of adolescent electronic PHI access in Canada.
• Recommendations for safeguarding and empowering minors' digital health rights are suggested.