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Abstract
Health information technology such as personal health records (PHRs) has advanced the health care industry in order to provide patients an opportunity to increase their involvement in health delivery. To achieve increases in quality and reductions in cost, leaders at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are establishing payment incentives for increasing the use of electronic health records for physicians, and PHRs for patients, as part of a national health care information network. Electronic health record (EHR) use, noticeably, continues to increase among physicians, though, personal health record use is only 3% and 7% in the general U.S. population and estimated to be half of this among Millennials. The number of Millennial generation in U.S. exceeds 75.4 million of Baby Boomers. If the Millennials, estimated at 83.1 million in the United States are unwilling proactively engage in monitoring health changes before they become a problem, believing they are immune to poor health, the potential impacts include increase in overall health costs in the United States. Increasing the use of health information technology products, such as PHR is likely to offset a portion of Millennials health care expenses by increasing information access, optimizing communications, and decreasing health care waste. The framework of the diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory was referenced to determine if gender, health status, privacy, and innovativeness predict the impact of engaging with PHRs in U.S. Millennials (born 1982-1998). Data was collected from 122 Millennials using a SurveyMonkey Audience. Data was analyzed using nonparametric correlation to explain rate of adoption of personal health record (PHR) in Millennials. The variance ratio compares the independent variables. The findings confirmed the correlation of the variables and the hypothesis for each of the research questions rejected. Increase the awareness associated with benefits of PHR, and a policy directives that establishes technological requirements are recommendations.
