Setting the Agenda for Personal Health Records in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

In the developed world, Personal Health Records (PHRs) have been demonstrated to improve patient adherence, reduce medical errors, improve patient-provider communication, improve chronic disease management, and promote behavior change. PHRs have not been widely adopted in low- and middle-income countries. There is rising use of smartphones, adoption of national-level electronic health systems, and change in historical perceptions on acceptance of technology. It is thus an opportune time to critically examine the potential role and approaches to PHRs in LMICs.