Portable Health Files Improve Quality of Care and Health Outcomes: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

The PHF trial will assess the acceptability and long term outcomes resulting from the usage of electronic (carried by the patient on a USB memory device) and paper portable health files in a population with high intensity use of medical services. The rationale is that use of the portable health files provides a conduit of direct communication among health care providers of a patient's important health care information and this leads to better care and patient outcomes.

Primary hypothesis: Addition of a patient-held portable health file (PHF) to usual care improves patient outcome and quality-of-life compared to usual care alone.

Secondary hypothesis: Addition of patient-held portable health file (PHF) to usual care is acceptable and satisfactory to patients and their health care providers.

Conditions

• Chronic Medical Conditions
• Personal Health Records
• Electronic Medical Record

Interventions

DEVICE

Electronic (USB) Portable Health File

Patients randomized to this arm of the trial will be given a USB memory device that contains the Portable Health File (PHF) software. The portable health files contained core medical data which functions as a subset of a comprehensive medical record. The portable health file is updated by the health care provider at each visit and could also be updated by patient between visits if necessary.

DEVICE

Paper Portable Health File

Patients randomized to this arm of the trial will be given the paper Portable Health File. The paper Portable Health File contains core medical and other important data which functions as a subset of a more comprehensive medical record. This paper-based portable health file is updated by health care providers at each visit. The PHF can also be updated by patient between visits.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• South Eastern Area Health Service

  collaborator OTHER

• The University of New South Wales

  collaborator OTHER

• National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia

  collaborator OTHER

• St George Hospital, Australia

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Marissa ND Lassere, MBBS PhD · St George Hospital and Univeristy of NSW

• Kent R Johnson, MD · Newcastle University

• George Rubin, MD · South East Sydney Area Health Service

• Anthony Sara, MBBS MBA · South East Sydney Area Health Service

• Andrew Parle, BSc (Hons) PhD · Consultant

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2010-03-31

Primary Completion

2019-03-31

Completion

2020-03-31

Countries

• Australia

Study Locations