Patients Increasingly Willing To Share Health Data

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

More than half of those who participated in a Pew Research Center survey said they would be willing to share their personal health information in exchange for health products or services.

An investigation into views on privacy and information sharing by the Pew Research Center has found many American’s are willing to share their personal health information in certain situations.

According to Health IT Interoperability, participants were asked to consider the following scenario: “A new health information website is being used by your doctor’s office to help manage patient records. Your participation would allow you to have access to your own health records and make scheduling appointments easier. If you choose to participate, you will be allowing your doctor’s office to upload your health records to the website and the doctor promises it is a secure site.”

iHealth Beat notes about 52 percent of respondents said using the health information website would be acceptable. Additionally, 20 percent of respondents said their use of the site would depend on the scenario and 26 percent said such data sharing was unacceptable.

One patient commented, “If it was with my current doctor and he showed me the site and how it was secure I may do it, because I trust him.” Another was unsure, saying, “It depends on exactly what records are shared. It would have to be a very secure site for me to trust it. Scheduling appointments wouldn’t bother me though.”

Others however voiced privacy concerns, pointing out, “My health records are my business and no one else’s. No website is totally secure,” and “My health records are confidential. I don’t want them in the hands of someone unscrupulous or marketing companies possibly trying to recommend a drug or something based on a condition I may have.”