‘We are on the same page:' the importance of doctors EHR screen sharing for promoting shared information and collaborative decision-making

Background: Electronic Health Records (EHR) can help create patient ownership of information, enhance patient-centered collaborative advising, and increase advice utilization through increases in trust and memory of the information. Using research from advice and collaborative decision-making, we theorized about how doctors’ screen sharing EHR during an appointment should be beneficial. Method: Thirteen doctors were interviewed about their perception and experience with screen sharing EHR with patients. Two coders, who are experts in collaborative decision-making, developed nine categories and then independently coded each interview. Results: Doctors reported using screen sharing for repetition and increased recollection of doctor instructions. They reported that screen sharing increased collaborative decision-making and trust, promoted a common ground between the doctor and patient, and helped validate and create ownership of the information for patients. Doctors noted using screen sharing more for younger patients, who they perceived as expecting more use of technology, and new patients, to help increase trust. Further, doctors were more likely to share information they perceived that patients could understand, rather than complex information. Finally, doctors reported problems with screen sharing, like patients seeing sensitive information. Conclusions: Doctor responses support previous research about the benefits of shared information for trusting information and utilizing advice.