Factors Affecting the Extent of Patients’ EMR Use: An Empirical Study Focusing on System and Patient Characteristics (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Patients’ access to and use of electronic medical records (EMRs) places greater information in their hands, which helps them better co-manage their health, leading to better clinical outcomes. Despite numerous benefits that promote health and well-being, patients’ acceptance and use of EMRs remains low. OBJECTIVE This study aims to examine the critical system and patient characteristics that influence the extent of patients’ EMR use. METHODS We employed the patient technology acceptance model as a starting point and included new constructs specific to patient characteristics, such as chronic conditions, preventive health behavior, and issue involvement. To test our hypotheses, we used structural equation modeling. RESULTS The statistically significant drivers of the extent of EMR use were performance expectancy (β = 0.253; P < .000), perceived behavior control (β = 0.236; P < .000), health knowledge (β = -0.071; P < .01), caregiving status (β = 0.059; P < .05), issue involvement (β = 0.356; P < .000), chronic conditions (β = 0.071; P < .05), and preventive health behavior (β = 0.076; P < .01). The model accounted for 32.9% of the variance in the extent of EMR use. CONCLUSIONS The study found that health characteristics, such as chronic conditions and patient disposition (e.g., preventive health behavior and issue involvement), directly affect the extent of EMR use. The study also revealed that issue involvement mediates the impacts of preventive health behaviors and the presence of chronic conditions on the extent of patients’ EMR use.