Table 2.

Frequency and Proportion of Responses Reflecting Themes and Excerpts from Free-Text Responses

Themes	n of patients (N = 2034)	Examples* (edited for length and spelling)
Errors and surprises	715(35.2)
Mistake/inaccuracy	466	• A note in my file that was put together using boilerplate cut-and-paste and includes several errors, including some of my conditions, family history, and my age and sex. It suggested a level of carelessness in record-keeping. There needs to be an easier way for the patient to request changes and I am really surprised at how much there is that is wrong.
		• There are so many things that are incorrectly stated in the notes and I feel like I am saddled with them forever.
Did not happen in visit	96	• The doctor reports having made a number of statements and recommendations that he did not make.
Confidentiality concern	81	• I felt there was too much personal information written about me that I would prefer not be on there. It made me uncomfortable and it was not necessary in the context of my visit.
Diagnoses not discussed	44	• I read about a diagnosis we hadn’t discussed. If it’s important enough to go into my file, it’s important enough to tell me.
		• The diagnosis on the notes was that I was suffering from depression but the doctor did not even mention that to me on the visit, that is what makes me keep reading the notes, to know what the dr, really think about me but did not said to me, that was very disappointing.
Lie (intentionality suggested)	28	• I wasn’t offended. It was actually betrayal. I felt that the MD had painted a much different picture than what they had written in my chart
Labeling	661
Personal descriptors	262	• Provider called me ‘elderly’!!! Insolent pup!!!
		• A description of my demeanor that I don't agree with and could have explained if I was asked about it.
Obesity	194	• Note said I wasn't doing everything I could to lose weight which was untrue and very upsetting to see my Dr thought of me like that.
		• I was described as obese. Perhaps that is true according to some chart. ... I was quite taken aback and embarrassed by that description. ... After this I stopped reading notes. It wasn’t worth it to me to possibly feel bad about myself.
		• I was described as overweight but it actually inspired me to lose weight
Stigma (other than above)	171	• While the note included something I had said during the appointment, it made it feel like if another provider read it out of context, there could have been judgement placed on what I said and how I expressed it during the appointment
Gender and sexuality	34	• Comments around my being gay
		• Wrong gender
Disrespect	653
Not heard/misquoted	299	• Pertinent info was left off–I often felt the need to offer MY interpretation of the visit–and there should be a place for this. Some of the notes presented me in a more negative light because my expressed rational concerns about taking some meds were not noted.
		• ‘Offended’ may be too strong, but I was put off by a description of a discussion that I felt did not adequately represent my point of view, and differed from my interpretation of what I thought I had heard the doctor say. This was, however, very helpful to me...
Clinical language and conventions	251	• Use of the verb ‘denies’ as in: ‘Denies arms tingling, numbness or weakness.’ I did not deny these things. I said I didn’t feel them. Completely different. Language matters
		• It’s simply the language that doctors are taught to use. Patient reports are considered ‘subjective’ and therefore cast as slightly unreliable.
Condescension	103	• It feels condescending, even when the comment is positive, when a doctor judges your personal character based on 5 minutes in an exam room. I feel like I’m reading my high school report card...assumptions being made, maybe based on race, gender, weight, etc.
Other	403
		• Too hard to explain.