ArticleJMIR aging2025
Experiences of Older Mental Health Patients and Their Care Partners Using a Proxy Account to Access Open Notes: Qualitative Interview Study.
Article in JMIR aging, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Determinants for the Usage of Digital Patient Portals in Hospitals: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Digital Divide.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Pooled it
- Errors in AI-Transformed Patient-Centered Mental Health Documentation Written by Psychiatrists: Qualitative Pre-Post Study.JMIR mental health · 2026Article
- Open Notes in Mental Health: A Scoping Review of Stakeholder Experiences and Implications for Clinical Practice.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Piloting Digital Navigators to Promote Acceptance and Engagement With Digital Mental Health Apps in German Outpatient Care: Protocol for a Multicenter, Single-Group, Observational, Mixed Methods Interventional Study (DigiNavi).JMIR research protocols · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundOlder patients with serious mental illnesses such as cognitive disorders often rely on family members or spouses (care partners [CPs]) to meet their health care needs. CPs frequently lack essential information to fully understand the patients' illnesses and effectively support their treatment. Open Notes provide patients with digital access to their health care professionals' clinical notes and are associated with many positive outcomes, such as increased adherence and empowerment. However, older patients who use Open Notes may encounter use barriers such as limited digital literacy. Recent developments allow CPs to access Open Notes (proxy access) and receive valuable information, which holds significant potential for improving the care of older patients.
objectiveThis study explored the experiences, barriers, and opportunities of older mental health patients and their CPs related to using Open Notes. Furthermore, influencing factors and interdependencies were identified.
methodsOlder patients (n=10) and their CPs (n=10) were provided with web-based proxy access to clinical documentation through a web-based patient portal. In-depth qualitative interviews (N=20) were conducted to explore experiences with this access. Data analysis was conducted in accordance with the constructivist grounded theory approach.
resultsThe prerequisites for using Open Notes with proxy access were sufficient digital literacy on the part of the patient or CP, as well as the establishment of a trusting relationship between patients and CPs. Access to Open Notes enabled patients and CPs to gain a deeper understanding of the illness and its treatment while also facilitating enhanced contact with health care professionals. This resulted in greater involvement in the treatment process but may also prompt changes in relationship dynamics-CPs are better equipped to support patients in their health care but may also tend to monitor or control them through Open Notes. As a result, the introduction of Open Notes was accompanied by mixed feelings.
conclusionsIt is of utmost importance to provide older patients with comprehensive access to Open Notes to preserve their health autonomy. However, the involvement of CPs through proxy access is of great value in improving the care of older patients, especially those with cognitive impairments.
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