Engagement with the national electronic health records by people with Parkinson's disease.

BACKGROUND

People with Parkinson's disease (PwPD) require coordinated, multidisciplinary care, which can be facilitated by Electronic Health Records (EHRs) enabling efficient information exchange and personalized decision-making. Understanding which patient-, healthcare provider- (HCP), and technology-related factors drive EHR engagement among older population with complex health needs is crucial for the successful adoption and advancement of digital transformation in medicine.

METHODS

Guided by the digital health empowerment framework, this cross-sectional study explored patient engagement with the national EHRs among 191 PwPD in Luxembourg, using validated instruments, including eHealth Literacy Questionnaire (eHLQ) and Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS).

RESULTS

Findings from the descriptive and regression analysis showed that only 29.8% respondents engaged multiple times with their personal EHR in the previous year, 70.2% have not used it, including 40.8 % who have never access it since the launch of EHR system. Key factors associated with higher engagement with personal EHR included being born in Luxembourg, milder disease severity, and higher digital health literacy, as well as receiving support from HCPs to use personal EHR. Surprisingly, higher trust in HCPs and greater health literacy were linked to lower personal EHR usage.

CONCLUSIONS

Personal EHR engagement among the vulnerable aging population is influenced by a complex interplay of patient, HCP, and technology-related factors, which must be addressed holistically to ensure inclusive usage and adherence to digital health tools.