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. 2025 Feb 7;27:e54973. doi: 10.2196/54973

Table 7.

Summary of themes.

Themes Subthemes
Theme 1: patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs) change the purpose of the health record a
Theme 2: health care professionals (HCPs) change their information practices to protect the therapeutic relationship and patient safety
  • Subtheme 2.1: PAEHRs introduce risks to the therapeutic relationship

  • Subtheme 2.2: PAEHRs introduce risks to patient safety

  • Subtheme 2.3: trust, transparency, and accuracy of information can mitigate the risks posed by the PAEHRs to the therapeutic relationship and patient safety

  • Subtheme 2.4: PAEHRs offer opportunities to enhance accountability and communication between HCPs and patients regarding the documentation of information

Theme 3: PAEHRs disrupt HCPs’ documentation practices
  • Subtheme 3.1: HCPs document less detailed information in PAEHRs, particularly relating to sensitive information

  • Subtheme 3.2: PAEHRs require HCPs to document information that patients will understand

  • Subtheme 3.3: PAEHRs require HCPs to take a person-centered approach when documenting potentially subjective information

  • Subtheme 3.4: HCPs limit the documentation of uncertain information in PAEHRs

  • Subtheme 3.5: HCPs may omit content or restrict access to PAEHRs

Theme 4: PAEHRs introduce changes to HCPs’ information workflows
Theme 5: HCPs require tailored training, education, and guidelines on documenting information in a PAEHR
Theme 6: patients are empowered with new information practices if they are supported to use their PAEHR
  • Subtheme 6.1: patients need support to use their PAEHR

  • Subtheme 6.2: PAEHRs must be easy for patients to navigate, access, and understand


Theme 7: PAEHRs raise new concerns about information privacy and security for HCPs, patients, and third parties
  • Subtheme 7.1: PAEHRs pose challenges to managing third-party data

  • Subtheme 7.2: PAEHRs pose challenges to managing third-party access to patient information


aNo subthemes.