Medical records that patients can access online may encourage more people to get recommended screening tests and immunizations, a new study suggests.
In a clinical trial at eight primary care practices, researchers found that patients who used such “interactive” health records were more likely to become up-to-date on recommended preventive care.
That included screening tests for breast, colon and cervical cancers, and immunizations like the yearly flu shot.
After 16 months, 25 percent of patients who used the online records were up-to-date on their preventive care – which was double the rate of non-users.
