Challenges in Personal Health Record Adoption in Dutch Hospitals Persist
Utrecht, Tuesday, 12 August 2025.
A new study reveals Dutch hospitals struggle with adopting Personal Health Records, citing technical, financial, and privacy issues, despite improvements in coherence and engagement.
Understanding Personal Health Records
Personal Health Records (PHRs) are digital tools that allow patients to manage their health information from various healthcare organizations. They enhance patient-provider communication, empower patients, and potentially improve self-care by providing access to health data anytime and anywhere [1]. Despite these advantages, Dutch hospitals are encountering significant hurdles in implementing PHRs effectively [2].
Adoption Challenges in Dutch Hospitals
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, the adoption rates of PHRs in Dutch general and academic hospitals are disappointingly low. The study utilized the Technology Adoption and Readiness Scale (TARS) to investigate adoption aspects such as coherence and cognitive participation. While improvements were noted, issues like technical limitations, financial hurdles, and privacy concerns were highlighted as persistent barriers [2][3].
Mixed Progress Over Time
Between 2021 and 2023, significant progress was observed in areas like coherence and cognitive participation. This suggests that healthcare professionals better understood and were more engaged with PHRs over time. However, interactional workability, which measures how well PHRs facilitate communication between patients and providers, saw a decline. This indicates challenges in making PHRs an integral part of everyday healthcare interactions [2].
Strategic Initiatives for Improvement
The findings signal an urgent need for strategic initiatives targeting PHR adoption. Improving technical integration with existing electronic health records (EHRs) and addressing data privacy issues are critical. Furthermore, consistent communication about the benefits and security of PHRs could enhance their acceptance among both patients and healthcare professionals [2][3].