Can sharing clinic notes improve communication and promote self-management? A qualitative study of patients with COPD.
Kimberly A Fisher, Kara Kennedy, Sarah Bloomstone and 3 others
PMID 34175167WHAT IT FOUND
Patients with COPD reported that reading their clinic notes helped them remember care plans, understand their role in self-management, and feel listened to.
However, medical jargon, abbreviations, and errors in the notes caused confusion or anxiety, limiting their usefulness.
Key findings
01Nearly all participants described at least one way in which reading their clinic visit note enabled self-management, such as gaining a better understanding of their role or being motivated to engage in behaviors like exercise and smoking cessation.
02All participants identified at least one aspect of the note they didn’t understand or found confusing, such as medical terminology, abbreviations, or transcription errors, which limited the note's usefulness.
03Some participants reacted negatively to specific wording in the notes, such as 'tobacco abuse' or 'deny', although most still found the note helpful and preferred continuing to receive them.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted at a single center in the northeastern US, limiting generalizability. The sample was predominantly White (93.3%). The study focused on a single clinic note, so it did not capture longitudinal data or the impact of multiple notes over time. Member checking was not conducted to confirm the interpretation of patient recommendations.
Declared interests
The study was supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Institute on Aging. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that sharing clinic notes automatically improves patient understanding or self-management. The study found that all participants identified confusing or incorrect elements, and some experienced increased anxiety or negative reactions to stigmatizing language, which can undermine the potential benefits of open notes.