EHRrors Project

The context

Electronic health records (EHRs) have become integral to patient-centred healthcare in Sweden. EHRs aid healthcare professionals (HCPs) in patient engagement and empower patients to make informed care decisions. But EHRs are full of errors, or so-called EHRrors.

EHRrors can range from inaccuracies to critically omitted information, and they are common. By our estimates, every second patient has found a serious EHRror, and while many HCPs expect EHRrors, patients likely do not. Research on what types of EHR data is erroneous and which patients are likely to experience them is limited to the US. Little is known about EHRrors in Sweden, as well as about their impact on patients and HCPs.

About the project

The aim of the project is to address this critical knowledge gap through four research questions (RQs):

RQ 1. What types of EHR information have patients identified as incorrect, inaccurate or critically omitted?

RQ 2. What is the effect, if any, of gender, age, and diagnoses on the encounter of different EHRror types?

RQ 3. What impact, if any, do EHRrors have on patients, focusing on the use of 1177 Journalen, relationship with HCPs, and healthcare experience?

RQ 4. What impact, if any, do EHRrors have on HCPs, focusing on work environment, relationship with patients, and medicolegal concerns?

The project is of high societal relevance as EHRrors pose a significant patient-safety risk due to undermining the quality assurance work of HCPs and likely negatively affect their work environment. The project will co-produce educational materials (EHRrors Databank and EHRrors Case Vignettes) based on an evidence-driven EHRrors Classification Framework, which will contribute to public awareness, continued training of HCPs, and inform policy update.

Education materials will be made openly available on the project website

If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please contact the project PI: Anna Kharko