[November 20, 2014]

Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health Poll Finds Majority of Americans Willing to Share their Health Data

Three in four Americans say their physician uses an electronic medical record system, and 68 percent say they're willing to share their health information with researchers. However, less than a quarter are willing to share their purchase history or social media activity, according to the Truven Health Analytics-NPR (News - Alert) Health Poll.

Truven Health Analytics™ and NPR conduct a monthly poll to gauge attitudes and opinions on a wide range of health issues.

The survey asked respondents to share their views about electronic medical records (EMRs) and any potential privacy concerns these records may create. The results showed that 74 percent of Americans have a physician that utilizes an EMR, a rate that tended to increase with both increasing age and level of education. Ninety percent of respondents 65 years and older have a doctor that uses EMRs, while just 60 percent of Millennials say the same, both rates that are statistically significant.

Regarding privacy concerns that EMRs may present, 68 percent said they would allow their anonymous health data to be shared with researchers. But only 22 percent would grant their own physician or health plan with access to their credit card purchases or social media information, even if it might improve their overall health. Sixteen percent of respondents said they have worries about sharing their health records with their health insurer, followed by hospitals (14 percent), physicians (11 percent), and employers (10 percent).

Overall, 56 percent have reviewed the information kept by their physician, and just five percent of respondents aid they have been informed their medical records were accessed without their permission. The latter occurred most frequently for respondents who make over $100,000 (16 percent).

"An overwhelming number of patients have had experiences with EMRs, which seems to point towards a concerted effort among healthcare providers to share information as a means to faster, more accurate care," said Michael Taylor, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Truven Health Analytics. "While privacy concerns have been an issue in the past, as EMRs continue to become more prevalent, it appears that Americans are becoming increasingly comfortable sharing this type of information with employers, providers and health plans."

To date, the Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health Poll has explored numerous health topics, including generic drugs, abortion, vaccines, food allergies, and organic and genetically modified foods. NPR's reports on the surveys are archived online at the Shots health blog here.

Truven Health Analytics maintains a library of poll results here.

The Truven Health Analytics-NPR Health Poll is powered by the Truven Health PULSE® Healthcare Survey, the nation's largest and longest-running independently funded, nationally representative multi-modal poll that collects information about health-related behaviors and attitudes and healthcare utilization from 82,000 US households annually. Survey questions are developed in conjunction with NPR. The figures in this month's poll are based on 3,003 participants interviewed from August 1-16, 2014. The margin of error is 1.8 percent.

About Truven Health Analytics

At Truven Health Analytics we are dedicated to delivering the answers our clients need to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs. We are a healthcare analytics company with robust, widely-respected data assets and advanced analytic expertise that have served the global healthcare industry for more than 30 years. These combine with our unique perspective from across the entire healthcare industry to give hospitals, clinicians, employers, health plans, government agencies, life sciences researchers, and policymakers the confidence they need to make the right decisions, right now, every time. With our healthcare-specific expertise and tools for managing complex and disparate data, we understand how to implement and integrate tailored analytics that drive improvement.

Truven Health Analytics owns some of the most trusted brands in healthcare, such as Micromedex, ActionOI, 100 Top Hospitals, MarketScan, and Advantage Suite. Truven has its principal offices in Ann Arbor, Mich.; Chicago; and Denver. For more information, please visit http://truvenhealth.com.

About NPR

NPR is an award-winning, multimedia news organization and an influential force in American life. In collaboration with more than 900 independent public radio stations nationwide, NPR strives to create a more informed public - one challenged and invigorated by a deeper understanding and appreciation of events, ideas and cultures.

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