Table 3 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 read things in their records that would make them worry more

Correlation Coefficient

0.112

0.139

−0.027

0.226

−0.004

0.125

−0.047

−0.193

0.321

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.562

0.471

0.89

0.238

0.985

0.518

0.811

0.316

0.09

Your patients would better understand their medical conditions

Correlation Coefficient

0.01

0.034

0.145

0.136

−0.078

−0.154

0.525a

0.305

−0.22

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.96

0.863

0.454

0.48

0.689

0.426

0.003

0.108

0.251

Your patients would better understand the instructions you give them

Correlation Coefficient

−0.519a

−0.430b

−0.09

−0.084

0.289

−0.064

0.443b

−0.009

−0.07

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.004

0.02

0.641

0.666

0.128

0.741

0.016

0.961

0.718

Your patients would be offended by some of the things that are written in the record about them

Correlation Coefficient

0.086

0.048

−0.035

−0.127

0.084

−0.119

−0.101

−0.385b

−0.151

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.658

0.807

0.858

0.511

0.665

0.538

0.601

0.039

0.434

Your patients would help identify significant factual errors in the medical record

Correlation Coefficient

−0.231

−0.052

−0.024

−0.295

0.269

−0.092

−0.04

−0.042

−0.088

 

Sig. (two-tailed)

0.227

0.789

0.902

0.12

0.158

0.636

0.835

0.827

0.648

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