Table 2 Correlations between perceptions of the clinician–patient relationship and perceptions of sharing online medical records with patients.

From: Risks and rewards of increasing patient access to medical records in clinical ophthalmology using OpenNotes

Outcomes of sharing online medical records

Spearman’s

The doctor is the one who should decide what gets talked about during a visit

It is often best for patients if they do not have a full explanation of their medical condition.

Patients should rely on their doctor’s knowledge and not try to find out about their conditions on their own.

Many patients continue asking questions even though they are not learning anything new.

Patients should be treated as if they are partners with the doctor, equal in power and status.

Patients generally want reassurance rather than information about their health.

When patients disagree with their doctor, this is a sign that the doctor does not have the patient’s respect and trust.

The patient must always be aware that the doctor is in charge.

When patients look up medical information on their own, this usually confuses more than it helps.

Your patients would find your notes in the medical record confusing

Correlation Coefficient

−0.029

0.333

0.217

0.11

0.002

0.309

−0.2

−0.231

0.274

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.883

0.078

0.259

0.57

0.993

0.102

0.299

0.228

0.15

Your patients would find the lab and imaging reports confusing

Correlation Coefficient

0.051

0.018

0.189

0.24

−0.112

0.051

−0.269

−0.199

0.163

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.792

0.926

0.326

0.21

0.563

0.795

0.159

0.302

0.397

Your patients would be better prepared for their medical visits with you

Correlation Coefficient

−0.204

−0.291

−0.059

−0.233

0.011

−0.344

0.434a

−0.051

−0.492b

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.288

0.125

0.759

0.224

0.955

0.068

0.019

0.794

0.007

Your patients would trust you more as their physician

Correlation Coefficient

−0.109

−0.292

−0.081

−0.131

0.087

−0.281

−0.155

−0.127

−0.36

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.572

0.124

0.675

0.498

0.655

0.14

0.421

0.51

0.055

Your patients would contact the practice with more questions between visits

Correlation Coefficient

0.232

0.037

0.267

0.065

−0.117

0.051

−0.208

−0.135

0.093

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.225

0.848

0.162

0.739

0.547

0.795

0.279

0.485

0.632

  1. Bold = statistically significant.
  2. aCorrelation is significant at the 0.05 level (two-tailed).
  3. bCorrelation is significant at the 0.01 level (two-tailed).