Marie-Pierre Gagnon - Faculty of Nursing Science, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
Julie Payne-Gagnon - Research Centre of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
Erik Breton - Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
Jean-Paul Fortin - Centre de recherche sur les soins et les services de première ligne, Centre intégré de santé et services sociaux de la Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada
Lara Khoury - Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Lisa Dolovich - Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
David Price - Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
David Wiljer - Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Gillian Bartlett - Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Norman Archer - DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

Background Healthcare stakeholders have a great interest in the adoption and use of electronic personal health records (ePHRs) because of the potential benefits associated with them. Little is known, however, about the level of adoption of ePHRs in Canada and there is limited evidence concerning their benefits and implications for the healthcare system. This study aimed to describe the current situation of ePHRs in Canada and explore stakeholder perceptions regarding barriers and facilitators to their adoption.   Methods Using a qualitative descriptive study design, we conducted semi-structured phone interviews between October ۲۰۱۳ and February ۲۰۱۴ with ۳۵ individuals from seven Canadian provinces. The participants represented six stakeholder groups (patients, ePHR administrators, healthcare professionals, organizations interested in health technology development, government agencies, and researchers). A detailed summary of each interview was created and thematic analysis was conducted.   Results We observed that there was no consensual definition of ePHR in Canada. Factors that could influence ePHR adoption were related to knowledge (confusion with other electronic medical records [EMRs] and lack of awareness), system design (usability and relevance), user capacities and attitudes (patient health literacy, education and interest, support for professionals), environmental factors (government commitment, targeted populations) and legal and ethical issues (information control and custody, confidentiality, privacy and security).   Conclusion ePHRs are slowly entering the Canadian healthcare landscape but provinces do not seem wellprepared for the implementation of this type of record. Guidance is needed on critical issues regarding ePHRs, such as ePHR definition, data ownership, access to information and interoperability with other electronic health records (EHRs). Better guidance on these issues would provide a greater awareness of ePHRs and inform stakeholders including clinicians, decision-makers, patients and the public. In turn, it may facilitate their adoption in the country.

Electronic Personal Health Record (ePHR), Adoption, Canada, Qualitative Research