1PATIENTS ’ DIRECT ACCESS TO THEIR ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD USING THE INTERNET: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract: Patient-accessible medical record is an important element of evolution in the patient-physician relationship: patients want to become more active in their health care process. We want to highlight the results of studies that analyse the impact of patients having access to their elec-tronic medical record using the Internet on patients, on physicians and on their relationship. The studies were identified using “Pub Med ” and “Web of Knowledge”. The search was limited to articles published be-tween 2000 and October 2012. We focused on articles about patients accessing, through Internet, their electronic medical record that are cre-ated and filled in by physicians. 26 studies were selected and analysed. Quantitative data were obtained through questionnaires, analysis of the log-ins and analysis of the records, while qualitative data were obtained through interviews and focus groups. The specificity of our review refer