‘Getting it Write’: Helping health professionals to write online consultation notes that meet patients’ needs.

Aims

This study aims to collaborate with patients and health professionals to explore their ideas about how to help make online consultation notes easier for patient audiences to understand.

Background

Previous research has shown that patient access to online health records can have a positive impact on health outcomes and patient safety. The NHS wants to support more patients to access and use their online health record to help manage their health. Later in 2022, most patients using an online records access system, such as the NHS App, will be able to see their full primary care health record, including any free text notes made by health professionals. In the past, patient health records have mostly been used as a medical tool and have been written with clinical audiences in mind. We know that not all patients find it easy to access or read their online health record and we want to try and make it easier for all patients to maximise the benefits of online access. We have been speaking to health professionals and they have told us that they would like some training and support with writing their notes in more patient-friendly ways.

Research questions:

What do patients find difficult to understand, or potentially distressing or offensive within their online health record?

How can health professionals be supported to meet patients’ needs when writing entries into a patient’s online health record, whilst ensuring the records support good clinical care?

Design and methods

Phase 1: What do patients think of their current consultation notes?

Patients’ understandings of online health record notes will be explored through a series of interactive workshops which include opportunities for patients to highlight potential problems and solutions.

Phase 2: What kinds of support and training can help health professionals deliver what patients need?

Health professionals will be asked about how they can be best supported to write their entries in ways that are easier for patients to understand through focus group discussions.

Phase 3: Findings & further funding

Insights gathered from earlier phases will be used to develop a bigger funding proposal which aims to involve patients and health professionals in creating an intervention that improves patient access and understanding of their free-text notes.

Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement

Public and patient members were included in discussions about the need for this type of research and involved in writing this funding application. A pilot workshop explored the use of patient stories and sample consultation entries as resources to help people identify and think about patient needs and requirements. Feedback from the pilot also helped to identify groups of people who need to be included in future research activities.

Dissemination

Findings will be presented in academic journals and conferences as well as being shared with public, health professionals, and relevant community and medical groups.

Amount Awarded: £49,906