Understanding patients: participatory approaches for the user evaluation of vital data presentation

The objective of our research was to undertake first steps to analyse patient access to their electronic health records (EHR) as a crucial universal access issue: Why is patient involvement becoming a key issue, what approaches are available to learn more about patient attitudes and needs, which concrete outcomes can be obtained from such research? The paper outlines a reference scenario for tele home monitoring of chronically ill patients including measurement devices and system environment, provides an assessment of selected participatory approaches like questionnaires, interviews and group discussions, and reports about universal access design issues from a patient perspective. Concrete conclusions concerning access devices and presentation of EHR contents are developed. To allow all citizens equality in access, to benefit from advances in eHealth and to avoid a "Medical Divide", creativity, innovations and support are needed to progress towards a true Information Society for all also in the health arena.