TY - JOUR
T1 - OpenNotes in oncology
T2 - Oncologists’ perceptions and a baseline of the content and style of their clinician notes
AU - Alpert, Jordan M.
AU - Morris, Bonny B.
AU - Thomson, Maria D.
AU - Matin, Khalid
AU - Geyer, Charles E.
AU - Brown, Richard F.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study received funding support from National Cancer Institute R25 Training Program in Behavioral and Health Services Cancer Control Research (R25CA093423).
Funding Information:
Acknowledgments: This study received funding support from National Cancer Institute R25 Training Program in Behavioral and Health Services Cancer Control Research (R25CA093423).
Publisher Copyright:
© Society of Behavioral Medicine 2018. All rights reserved.
PY - 2019/3/1
Y1 - 2019/3/1
N2 - Patients’ ability to access their provider’s clinical notes (OpenNotes) has been well received and has led to greater transparency in health systems. However, the majority of this research has occurred in primary care, and little is known about how patients’ access to notes is used in oncology. This study aims to understand oncologists’ perceptions of OpenNotes, while also establishing a baseline of the linguistic characteristics and patterns used in notes. Data from 13 in-depth, semistructured interviews with oncologists were thematically analyzed. In addition, the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) program evaluated over 200 clinician notes, measuring variables encompassing emotions, thinking styles, social concerns, and parts of speech. Analysis from LIWC revealed that notes contained negative emotional tone, low authenticity, high clout, and high analytical writing. Oncologists’ use of stigmatized and sensitive words, such as “obese” and “distress,” was mainly absent. Themes from interviews revealed that oncologists were uncertain about patients’ access to their notes and may edit their notes to avoid problematic terminology. Despite their reluctance to embrace OpenNotes, they envisioned opportunities for an improved patient–provider relationship due to patients initiating interactions from viewing notes. Oncologists believe notes are not intended for patients and altering their content may compromise the integrity of the note. This study established a baseline for further study to compare notes pre-implementation to post-implementation. Further analysis will clarify whether oncologists are altering the style and content of their notes and determine the presence of patient-centered language.
AB - Patients’ ability to access their provider’s clinical notes (OpenNotes) has been well received and has led to greater transparency in health systems. However, the majority of this research has occurred in primary care, and little is known about how patients’ access to notes is used in oncology. This study aims to understand oncologists’ perceptions of OpenNotes, while also establishing a baseline of the linguistic characteristics and patterns used in notes. Data from 13 in-depth, semistructured interviews with oncologists were thematically analyzed. In addition, the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) program evaluated over 200 clinician notes, measuring variables encompassing emotions, thinking styles, social concerns, and parts of speech. Analysis from LIWC revealed that notes contained negative emotional tone, low authenticity, high clout, and high analytical writing. Oncologists’ use of stigmatized and sensitive words, such as “obese” and “distress,” was mainly absent. Themes from interviews revealed that oncologists were uncertain about patients’ access to their notes and may edit their notes to avoid problematic terminology. Despite their reluctance to embrace OpenNotes, they envisioned opportunities for an improved patient–provider relationship due to patients initiating interactions from viewing notes. Oncologists believe notes are not intended for patients and altering their content may compromise the integrity of the note. This study established a baseline for further study to compare notes pre-implementation to post-implementation. Further analysis will clarify whether oncologists are altering the style and content of their notes and determine the presence of patient-centered language.
KW - Electronic medical record
KW - Health communication
KW - OpenNotes
KW - Patient portal
KW - Patient–provider communication
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062998009&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85062998009&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/tbm/iby029
DO - 10.1093/tbm/iby029
M3 - Article
C2 - 29596633
AN - SCOPUS:85062998009
SN - 1869-6716
VL - 9
SP - 347
EP - 356
JO - Translational Behavioral Medicine
JF - Translational Behavioral Medicine
IS - 2
ER -